Long March 6A Launches SatNet LEO Group 21 — 8 April 2026 Recap

What happened?

A Chinese Long March 6A rocket successfully launched the SatNet LEO Group 21 batch of broadband satellites on 8 April 2026 at 19:38 UTC from Launch Complex 9A at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern China. The mission, operated by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), reached orbit successfully, adding another block of satellites to China's national low-Earth-orbit internet constellation.

The Long March 6A is a two-stage medium-lift launch vehicle that pairs a liquid-fueled kerolox core with four solid rocket boosters — the first Chinese rocket to combine liquid and solid propulsion in this configuration. It can place roughly 4,500 kg into a 700 km sun-synchronous orbit, making it well suited to deploying stacks of flat-packed communications satellites.

What was the payload?

The payload was a group of SatNet low-Earth-orbit satellites, part of the state-backed Guowang ("national network") megaconstellation managed by China SatNet. The full constellation is planned to comprise roughly 13,000 satellites, positioning it as China's direct competitor to SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper for global broadband coverage.

Each SatNet LEO group launch expands network capacity in low Earth orbit, typically targeting altitudes in the range of several hundred to just over a thousand kilometers. These satellites deliver high-throughput internet connectivity and are a strategic priority for China's telecommunications infrastructure.

Where did it launch from?

The mission lifted off from Launch Complex 9A at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, located in Shanxi Province. Taiyuan is China's primary site for sun-synchronous and polar-orbit launches, and Complex 9A was purpose-built to support the Long March 6A with its integrated solid-booster stack.

Did the launch succeed?

Yes. The launch was declared a success, with the Long March 6A delivering its SatNet payload to the intended orbit. The four solid boosters burned during the initial ascent phase before separating, after which the liquid-fueled stages continued to orbital insertion. CASC confirmed the mission met its objectives.

Why does this mission matter?

The Guowang constellation is central to China's ambition to provide sovereign satellite broadband and reduce dependence on foreign networks. Every SatNet group launch of a few dozen satellites steadily builds toward the multi-thousand-satellite target. Because the constellation must be substantially deployed to meet International Telecommunication Union filing deadlines, cadence matters — and the Long March 6A is one of the workhorses tasked with reaching those numbers.

How to track the satellites

Once cataloged, the newly deployed SatNet satellites can be followed in orbit alongside the rest of the world's spacecraft on Cosmik's live 3D satellite map. You can watch the growing Chinese megaconstellation spread across low Earth orbit and compare it against other networks in real time. New to orbital tracking? See our guide on how to track satellites.

More about the Long March 6A

The Long March 6A debuted in 2022 and represents a modernization step for China's Long March family, using a modular design that can be scaled for different payload classes. Its combination of liquid core and strap-on solids gives it flexibility for both government and commercial missions, and it has become a regular flyer for constellation deployment from Taiyuan.

For the full upcoming manifest, check the rocket launch schedule, and browse the latest launch news for recaps of every recent mission.

Sources

• Mission data via The Space Devs Launch Library API
• Long March 6A (Wikipedia)
• Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (Wikipedia)

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