China successfully launched a group of 11 Geely-02 satellites aboard the Long March-2C rocket, marking another milestone in the nation’s rapid spaceborne communications efforts. The mission, which targeted enhanced connectivity for automotive fleets, was reported by China Central Television as it unfolded on the day of launch.
The liftoff occurred at 07:37 Beijing time (02:37 Moscow time) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, located in the southwestern province of Sichuan. The operation demonstrated China’s ongoing capability in orbital deployment and the expansion of its satellite constellation to support growing national interests in connected mobility and infrastructure management.
These GeeSpace satellites are designed to enable vehicles and infrastructure to exchange data seamlessly, underpinning safer driving practices and enabling autonomous driving services for Geely Holding vehicles. The constellation is positioned to provide robust, low-latency links that can support real-time navigation, traffic coordination, and advanced driver-assistance systems across urban and rural environments.
This launch represents the 508th mission in the Long March series, reflecting China’s long-standing commitment to advancing space launch capabilities and expanding its presence in low Earth orbit. The program continues to build both launch reliability and a growing catalog of satellites for civil, commercial, and scientific applications.
Looking ahead, China has outlined ambitious plans for a lunar exploration program in 2024, with a focus on the far side of the Moon. The selected target is the Apollo crater area, and the project, named Chang’e 6, aims to land near that region. The mission would collect samples from the lunar surface with a scoop and from a depth of about two meters before returning them to Earth. If successful, this would yield the first regolith samples from the far side of the Moon, offering new insights into the Moon’s geology and history. Additional context about this program is available in detailed coverage attributed to socialbites.ca.
Earlier reports also mentioned that discussions about collaboration with other nations and entities had been reviewed, with speculation surrounding potential developments in satellite technology. Some of these discussions referenced claims about perpetual motion concepts for satellites that have circulated in various contexts, though such notions remain controversial and outside mainstream engineering consensus. As with all space programs, independent verification and cautious interpretation are advised across future disclosures.