China launches 11th batch of internet satellites to boost global network

China launched a group of internet satellites into orbit early on Saturday night, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the mission contractor.

The satellites, marking the 11th group of low-orbit hardware in China's State-owned internet network, were lifted by a Long March 6A carrier rocket at 8:40 pm from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province, arriving in their orbital positions soon after.

Over the past two months, seven batches of satellites have been sent into orbit for the in-orbit networking of the country's massive space-based internet system, which is often likened to the Chinese version of SpaceX's Starlink.

Upon its completion, the Chinese mega-constellation will consist of about 13,000 satellites operating in low-Earth orbit to create an internet system with worldwide coverage.

The Long March 6A rocket model was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a CASC subsidiary, as a medium-lift launch vehicle. It consists of a 50-meter, liquid-propelled core booster and four solid-fuel side boosters. The core booster has a diameter of 3.35 meters and is propelled by two 120-ton-thrust engines burning liquid oxygen and kerosene.

The rocket has a liftoff weight of 530 metric tons and is mainly used to transport satellites to multiple types of orbit, including sun-synchronous, low-Earth and intermediate circular orbit. When used to reach the typical sun-synchronous orbit 700 kilometers above Earth, the model can carry satellites with a combined weight of more than 4.5 tons.

This is the fourth time the Long March 6A type has been deployed for the internet network. The launch also marked China's 59th rocket launch this year, and the 597th flight of the Long March rocket family.