China has exceeded its previous annual record for orbital launch attempts by successfully conducting two solid rocket launches late Saturday. The launches underscore the country's growing capabilities and ambitions in space. A Long March 11 solid rocket took flight at 4:01 p.m. Eastern (2101 UTC), Nov. 8, originating from a mobile launch platform stationed off the coast of Haiyang, Shandong Province.
While the launch was successful, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) took nearly eight hours to confirm it. This delay raised questions, as successful launches are typically announced within an hour, depending on mission parameters. Ultimately, CASC confirmed the success, identifying the payloads as the Shiyan-32 (01, 02 and 03) satellites. According to the space and defense entity, these satellites will be “primarily used for conducting experiments on new space technologies.” Further details were not provided. The Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAMCAS) was responsible for developing the 02 satellite. The Shiyan series are often shrouded in secrecy, but analysts suggest they serve as platforms for testing new systems like sensors, communications, and environmental instruments. These missions are believed to be a key component of China’s efforts to validate cutting-edge space technologies in orbit.
Satellites in the Shiyan series appear to have a diverse range of applications, including technology demonstrations, space environment monitoring, electronic intelligence gathering, remote sensing, space situational awareness, and space operations like rendezvous and proximity maneuvers (RPO). Previously, Shiyan-31 was launched on a Long March 2D with a wider 4.0-meter-diameter fairing Oct. 13, entering a 495 by 510-kilometer orbit inclined by 80 degrees, while a stage filmed impacting the ground, and Shiyan-30 (01) and (02) launched Sept. 29.
CAS Space, a commercial entity, followed this mission just hours later. Their Kinetica-1 solid rocket launched at 10:32 p.m. Eastern, Nov. 8 (0332 UTC, Nov. 9) from Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Area at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This mission carried the Chutian-2 technology experiment satellites 01 and 02. These satellites belong to China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) Space Engineering Development, a CASIC subsidiary. The Chutian constellation is considered a vital project for the Wuhan commercial aerospace sector and aims to test a Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) constellation. Its objectives include verifying Earth observation capabilities and high-resolution processing. China Daily describes these satellites as intended for testing Earth observation, hyper-resolution processing, and application capabilities.
VLEO allows for superior ground resolution and reduced latency. However, it necessitates active drag compensation or results in shorter service lifetimes. Therefore, the Chutian mission likely serves to evaluate propulsion, aerodynamics, and operational efficiency. Models of the series feature a streamlined, bullet-shaped design to minimize drag at low altitudes where atmospheric resistance is significantly greater. A Chutian-001 test satellite launched on a Kuaizhou-11 in May 2024, and appears to have reentered May 20, 2025. CAS Space plans to launch another Kinetica-1 rocket in late November, alongside a suborbital test flight of the Lihong-1 rocket, designed for suborbital tourism.
With these launches, China reached its 69th and 70th orbital launches in 2025, surpassing its previous record of 68 launches in 2024, with almost two months still remaining in the year. Jiuquan has been the busiest spaceport in China with 23 launches. The numbers indicate a decline in the use of Long March 2, 3 and 4 series rockets, while Long March 5, 6, 7 and 8 launchers are increasingly used. Overall, CASC’s Long March rockets have accounted for around three-quarters of all launches (51), with state-owned enterprise-affiliated commercial launchers Kinetica-1 (CAS Space), Jielong-3 (China Rocket) and Kuaizhou series (CASIC) totaling 10 launches, and nine further launches from commercial outfits Galactic Energy, Landspace, iSpace and Gravity Space. Launches for the Guowang and Qianfan/Thousand Sails constellations have driven some of the growth in launch. The next launches out of China are due soon, with a Long March 12 rocket scheduled to launch from Hainan commercial spaceport later Nov. 9 Eastern at around 10:00 p.m. (~0300 UTC, Nov. 10) and Galactic Energy Ceres-1 solid rocket from Jiuquan at around 11:05 p.m. Eastern Nov. 9 (~0405 UTC, Nov. 10). The debut of the larger Ceres-2 is currently expected Nov. 15. At time of reporting the expected return to Earth of the Shenzhou-20 astronauts had been delayed (Nov. 5) due to a potential debris impact. China’s human spaceflight agency is still assessing the situation.