China advanced its commercial space ambitions Tuesday as the Lijian-1 Y10 carrier rocket blasted off from a commercial aerospace facility in the country's northwest, successfully delivering seven satellites into orbit. The launch marks the eighth mission for the Lijian-1 series since its 2022 debut.
The rocket lifted off at 3:33 p.m. local time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center complex, a hub for China's growing private space sector. Among the deployed satellites were Mexico's ThumbSat-1 and ThumbSat-2, highlighting increasing international collaboration in Beijing's space program.
"This mission demonstrates the reliability of China's commercial launch capabilities," stated a Xinhua report, noting the rocket's track record of deploying over 50 satellites to date. The achievement comes as Asian nations accelerate investments in space technology, with China's commercial aerospace sector projected to grow 22% annually through 2025.
"The successful deployment underscores China's expanding role in the global space economy," the Xinhua analysis concluded.
