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Space is emerging as a strategic sector shaped by scarce resources and rapid technological change, and China’s space program is drawing increased investment momentum following rapid advances by commercial players.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the country’s leading space contractor, said the nation launched several experimental satellites into orbit on June 24. The satellites are part of the Space Internet Technology Demonstration project and were placed into predefined orbits by a Long March 2D rocket.
The Long March 2D launched at 14:35 from the Xiwang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, southwestern China. The deployment represents the ninth satellite launch in the Space Internet Technology Demonstration program since the first mission in July 2023.
One of the satellites aboard the mission was developed and manufactured by GalaxySpace, a Beijing-based private satellite company. The satellite will conduct technical tests of broadband satellite communications directly to mobile ground stations, including integration of space-ground networks and other key technologies.
The Long March 2D rocket uses liquid fuel. It has a liftoff thrust of 300 tons and can place a 1.2-ton spacecraft into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 km. The 2D model was developed by the Shanghai Institute of Aerospace Technology.
China plans to build a large constellation of about 13,000 satellites operating in low Earth orbit to support a global internet coverage system.
In parallel, the commercial space sector is expected to expand satellite application scenarios and develop new business models that integrate sensors, communications, computing, and applications across space, air, and ground. The sector is also positioned to drive space technology integration across industries.
China’s space sector includes a growing number of private companies. This was highlighted at the China High-Tech Fair in Shenzhen from November 14 to 16, 2025, where commercial space firms showcased new technologies and business models.
Beijing-based startup Skysight Technology, which specializes in geospatial data, was among the companies featured, with financial incentives and funding support provided to facilitate applications of these technologies in emerging industrial sectors.
China’s broader objective is to prioritize a technology-based economy and operate with technology.
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