At 6:00 AM on September 16, the Gravity-1 Yao-3 carrier rocket lifted off from the waters of the East China Sea, successfully delivering eight Qianfan constellation networking satellites and one ultra-high-speed wireless communication technology test satellite into their designated orbits. The launch mission was declared a complete success.
According to the rocket's developer, Orienspace Technology (Shandong) Co., Ltd., this mission set a new national record for both payload weight and orbital altitude in a single maritime launch, with a net payload exceeding three tons and an entry orbit of approximately 800 kilometers. This achievement validates the adaptability of the maritime launch model for medium-to-large satellite payload missions.
This marked the fourth consecutive successful maritime launch for the Gravity-1 rocket. Notably, this mission was the first time Gravity-1 conducted a large-scale low-orbit satellite internet constellation deployment. The rocket adopted a combination of stacked satellite assemblies and flat-panel satellite configurations, imposing stricter requirements on multiple separation control technologies and laying the groundwork for future high-frequency, large-scale constellation launches.
A representative from Orienspace stated that the satellites launched in this mission were manufactured in Shanghai and launched from waters near Shanghai. This land-sea coordination enhances the overall efficiency of commercial aerospace manufacturing and launch operations.