JIUQUAN, — China has successfully launched six new remote-sensing satellites into orbit, expanding its Earth-observation network and continuing the development of its orbital monitoring capabilities.
A Long March-4B rocket lifted off at 3:25 a.m. Beijing time on October 24 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The rocket carried three satellites from the Yaogan-53 group (07, 08 and 09) and three from the Yaogan-56 group (19, 20 and 21). All six spacecraft entered their planned orbits.
According to Chinese state media, the satellites will support scientific experiments, land and natural resource surveys, agricultural crop-yield estimation, and disaster prevention and mitigation.
Yaogan Satellites Have Civilian and Military Applications
The Yaogan satellite programme is China's remote-sensing initiative, but its capabilities also have military significance. U.S. government assessments and Western analysts have linked many satellites in the series to military intelligence and reconnaissance operations.
Chinese authorities have not publicly disclosed the specific sensors, technical specifications or surveillance capabilities of the six newly launched satellites. Their precise operational roles therefore remain unclear.
The satellites add to China's growing Earth-observation constellation, which supports civilian applications while also having potential dual-use purposes.
673rd Long March Rocket Mission
The launch marked the 673rd flight mission of China's Long March rocket family, reflecting the country's continued use of its established launch vehicles to deploy satellites.
The Yaogan-53 and Yaogan-56 groups each received their first three satellites in an earlier launch in September 2026. Commercial space companies, including MinoSpace and GalaxySpace, contributed to the development of the satellite groups, although their specific roles have not been disclosed.
The latest mission further expands China's orbital remote-sensing infrastructure, which is used for resource monitoring, agricultural assessment, scientific research and other Earth-observation activities.
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