Long March-6A Launches Mega Constellation Satellites, Successfully Deploys 21 Low-Earth Orbit Satellites

Summary: At 03:38 Beijing Time on April 9, 2026, at the Taiyuan Launch Center's "Long March-6" series dedicated launch position, the Long March-6A YA-17 rocket ignited and successfully delivered 21 low-Earth orbit satellite internet satellites into the intended polar orbit.

Credit: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Sources (original pages)

• 2026 Long March-6A First Mega Constellation Satellite Launch - Tencent News
• China Successfully Launches 21 Low-Earth Orbit Satellites for Satellite Internet - Tencent News
• China Successfully Launches 21 Low-Earth Orbit Satellites for Satellite Internet - Toutiao

Note: This mission marked the 637th flight of the Long March series of launch vehicles and the 22nd launch of the Long March-6A.

Mission Overview

Launch Time: 03:38 Beijing Time, April 9, 2026 Launch Site: Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center's "Long March-6" series dedicated launch position Rocket Model: Long March-6A YA-17 launch vehicle Payload: 21 low-Earth orbit satellite internet satellites (5 low-Earth orbit communication satellites) Developer: Developed by Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Mission Characteristics

1. Mega Constellation Deployment: This was the 4th batch launch of Chinese Starlink low-Earth orbit satellites in 2026, and the 21st batch launch of the constellation low-Earth orbit satellites
2. Technical Optimization: Long March-6A rocket team conducted minor technical optimization and launch process adjustments, including software upgrades and launch flow optimization
3. Launch Capability: Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) capability of no less than 6.5 tons at 500km altitude, and no less than 5 tons at 700km altitude

Rocket Technical Parameters

• Total Height: Approximately 52 meters (equipped with extended fairing)
• Core Diameter: 3.35 meters
• Takeoff Mass: Approximately 530 tons
• Takeoff Thrust: Approximately 738 tons
• Configuration: Two-and-a-half stage series-parallel configuration, with core stage 1 and core stage 2 in series, 4 solid booster stages bundled with core stage 1

Mission Significance

The Long March-6A launch vehicle is currently the rocket model with the most mega constellation deployment launches in China. Since beginning the Qianfan constellation and Chinese mega constellation batch deployment launches on August 6, 2024, it has successfully conducted 11 mega constellation batch launches (5 Qianfan, 6 Starlink).

The successful completion of this mission marks another solid and crucial step in China's journey to build an independently controllable "space internet."