BEIJING, China: China successfully launched a Long March-6 carrier rocket on Tuesday, deploying a constellation of 18 satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province. The mission, which began in the early afternoon, saw the rocket reach its intended orbit without issues, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
This launch underscores China’s growing space ambitions, complementing 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.
Additionally, China has developed the Beidou satellite system, which serves national security, communications, and scientific needs. Beidou is positioned as a competitor to the GPS system, which is predominantly controlled by the United States, highlighting the strategic space rivalry between the two nations.
