en.Wedoany.com Reported - The total number of in-orbit satellites in the Qianfan Constellation has exceeded 238, as the constellation completed two consecutive network launches within two days, setting a new record for the number of satellites carried in a single launch.
On the evening of July 5, the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center executed the launch mission of the Long March 8A carrier rocket, successfully sending the 15th batch of Qianfan polar orbit network satellites into their predetermined orbit using a "one rocket, twenty satellites" approach. The satellite-rocket separation was completed smoothly, and the launch mission was successful. On July 4, the Long March 6 modified carrier rocket had already sent 18 network satellites into space from the Taiyuan Launch Center. After these two launches, the total number of in-orbit satellites in the Qianfan Constellation increased to 238.
The Qianfan Constellation, also known as the G60 Low-Orbit Satellite Internet Constellation, is led by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite in research, development, manufacturing, and commercial operations. It is a domestically controlled national-level space-ground information infrastructure. The system relies on a domestic industrial chain for satellite platforms, communication payloads, rocket launches, and ground measurement and control.
The launched network satellites adopt a lightweight flat-panel stacked configuration, supporting large-scale bundled launches. They are equipped with Ku and Q/V multi-band communication payloads, as well as phased array antennas and laser inter-satellite links, enabling dynamic allocation of network resources. The system can provide low-latency, high-bandwidth stable network services in remote oceans, deep mountains, and desert areas where ground fiber optics and base stations cannot reach. Its technical architecture is smoothly compatible with next-generation 6G communication standards, achieving seamless connectivity across space, ground, sea, and air.
Unlike traditional communication satellites, a breakthrough of the Qianfan Constellation in the civilian field is its ability to enable direct satellite communication with existing ordinary mobile phones, allowing internet access, calls, and message transmission without hardware modifications. Relevant technical tests have been completed and verified, with public access expected by the end of 2026 to early 2027. In addition to civilian broadband access, the constellation serves diverse applications such as ocean-going ship networking, in-flight internet for civil aviation, agricultural and forestry IoT data collection, and emergency communication for geological disasters. It also provides cross-border data transmission services for overseas enterprises, ensuring secure and controllable communication data.
