China’s Long March 2D launch vehicle completed a successful mission, deploying four satellites into Earth orbit, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The operation marks another milestone for China’s growing group of space assets and demonstrates the capability of its current orbital deployment systems.
Liftoff occurred from the Taiyuan Space Base, with the launch pad ignition at 10:50 Beijing time (5:50 Moscow time). The timing placed the mission within a broader schedule of launches designed to expand remote sensing and Earth observation capabilities from space.
CASC reported that the mission placed three Sixiang Earth remote sensing satellites along with the Lingxi-03 satellite into orbit. These satellites are part of a diversified fleet intended to improve high-resolution imaging, land monitoring, and environmental observation for a range of civil and governmental applications across the region and beyond.
The Changerding rocket used in this flight is a liquid-fueled, two-stage vehicle. It was developed under the leadership of the Director General of the Eighth CASC Academy. The design prioritizes versatility, enabling the carrier to place multiple payloads into different orbital regimes on a single mission. The rocket’s carrying capacity sits around 1.3 tons, making it a flexible option for a variety of future deployment plans and missions with similar payload profiles.
April marked a notable expansion of China’s launch catalog with the first flight of the TL-2 Y1 rocket, signaling ongoing enhancements to domestic launch capabilities and strategic access to space for a range of national programs and commercial initiatives.
Meanwhile, in another corner of the space community, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) achieved a major milestone on 14 July by sending the Chandrayaan-3 mission toward the Moon. The spacecraft, equipped with a lunar rover, aimed to advance scientific exploration of the Moon and demonstrate ISRO’s growing proficiency in interplanetary missions, including lander-rover operations on the lunar surface.
Astronomical observers have issued warnings about a potentially hazardous asteroid trajectory that could intersect or closely approach Earth. The advisory underscores the importance of continual monitoring, collision risk assessment, and international coordination to assess potential impacts and mitigation strategies if needed. Such alerts remind space agencies and researchers of the ongoing need for robust planetary defense research and global data-sharing practices to safeguard populated regions and critical infrastructure.