Qianfan constellation deployment hits 200 satellites with Long March 8 and 6A launches

China’s Qianfan satellite constellation expanded to 200 satellites after two successful Long March launches on June 4 and 5. The Long March 6A launched 18 satellites from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, while the Long March 8 deployed another 18 from Hainan. Both missions placed satellites into polar orbits, bringing the total to 200, surpassing the national Guowang constellation’s 168 satellites. Qianfan, led by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (Spacesail), aims for over 10,000 satellites to provide global low-latency broadband internet. The June 4 launch used Genesat satellites, a subsidiary of Spacesail, though earlier deployment issues caused some satellites to fail to raise their orbits. The June 5 launch’s satellite manufacturer was unspecified, with both Genesat and the Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites (SECM) contributing. Together with two satellites launched on the Long March 12B’s debut on June 1, the constellation’s growth accelerated after a pause following its fifth launch in March 2025. Deployment has diversified beyond the Long March 6A and 8 rockets. Landspace’s Zhuque-2E launched a ‘large-scale constellation deployment experiment’ on May 13, with another launch planned for June 9. The Long March 12B, developed in 21 months, successfully deployed Qianfan satellites on its debut, featuring landing legs for future recovery attempts. Qianfan’s first launch occurred in August 2024, with six missions since April 7. The constellation now surpasses Guowang, a more opaque project with likely national security applications. Both aim for massive orbital networks, with Qianfan focusing on commercial broadband services. Future launches, including the reusable Zhuque-3, will further expand the constellation’s reach.