China launches new group of internet satellites

China launched a new group of low Earth orbit satellites from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan on Wednesday.

The satellite group, the eighth of its kind that will constitute an internet constellation, was launched at 2:43 p.m. aboard a Long March-5B carrier rocket, featuring a Yuanzheng-2 (Expedition-2) upper stage at the top of the rocket.

The satellites have since entered their preset orbit.

The launch marked the 588th mission of the Long March series carrier rockets.

(Cover: A new group of low Earth orbit satellites is launched aboard a Long March-5B carrier rocket from Wenchang, Hainan Province, south China, August 13, 2025. /VCG)