BEIJING: China on Tuesday successfully launched a Long March-6 carrier rocket, deploying a constellation of 18 satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province. According to the official Xinhua News Agency, the mission, which began in the early afternoon, saw the rocket reach its intended orbit without any issues.
This launch highlights China’s growing space ambitions, adding to its extensive achievements in space exploration. The country has conducted multiple crewed missions, established a space station with a rotating crew of three astronauts, and sent a rover to the Moon to collect samples.
Moreover, China has developed the Beidou satellite system, which serves national security, communications, and scientific purposes. Positioned as a competitor to the GPS system, predominantly controlled by the United States, Beidou underscores the strategic space rivalry between the two nations.
