China Launches Yaogan-50 and Guowang Satellites in Record Year Kickoff
SPACE ECONOMY
China launched a Long March 6A rocket carrying the Yaogan-50 (01) satellite from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on January 13, 2026. The satellite is in a highly retrograde orbit for land surveys and disaster mitigation.
Additionally, a Long March 8A rocket successfully deployed nine Guowang satellites into low Earth orbit from Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, marking the 18th launch for the Guowang project, aimed at creating a communication megaconstellation. China plans to increase its launches from 73 in 2025 to over 100 in 2026, with major missions including crewed flights and lunar exploration.

Jan 15, 2026, 6:12 AM