China launches new data relay satellite

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A Long March-7A rocket lifts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, July 29, 2026. /CMG

China launched a new data relay satellite from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday.

A Long March-7A rocket, carrying the Tianlian III-01 satellite, blasted off at 7:50 p.m., and has sent the satellite into the preset orbit.

Developed by China Academy of Space Technology, Tianlian III-01 will mainly provide data relay and telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) services for crewed spacecraft, including spaceships, space laboratories and space stations, and also for medium- and low-Earth-orbit resource satellites.

The Long March-7A, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, is a new generation of high-thrust liquid-propellant launch vehicle capable of carrying either a single or two satellites in one mission.

The launch marked the 659th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series. It also represented the 50th launch mission conducted from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site since the facility began operations in 2016.

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