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China launched two separate satellite missions on September 23 and 24, 2026: a Long March 8A carrying the 26th Guowang group and a Long March 6A carrying three Yaogan-40 group 04 satellites. The launches brought the country’s 2026 total to 70 orbital launch attempts, according to Science and Aerospace. Reaching its stated goal of more than 100 would require at least 31 further attempts in Q4—but the missions named for the final quarter remain a forecast, not a confirmed schedule.
What China launched on September 23 and 24
| Mission | Launch details | Payload |
|---|---|---|
| Guowang group 26 | Long March 8A from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site at 13:32 UTC on September 23, 2026 | Satellites for China’s Guowang satellite internet project; the report says they reached planned orbits |
| Yaogan-40 group 04 | Long March 6A from Taiyuan at 08:46 UTC on September 24, 2026 | Three satellites for electromagnetic-environment detection and related technology experiments |
Both launch times, payload descriptions, and orbit outcomes are reported by Science and Aerospace. The missions used different launch sites and vehicles, and served distinct purposes: expanding a connectivity constellation and conducting technical detection experiments.
What Guowang is
Guowang is described by Science and Aerospace as China SatNet’s national low-Earth-orbit satellite internet project, planned at around 13,000 satellites. The report says the program uses satellites from multiple manufacturers and a range of Long March vehicles. The planned scale and operator description are attributed to that report; a China SatNet primary source establishing them is not cited here.
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The stated purpose of Yaogan-40 group 04 is electromagnetic-environment detection and related technology experiments, according to the September 24 launch report. This wording is consistent with official Xinhua releases for earlier groups, though those releases do not corroborate the 2026 group 04 launch itself.
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- Xinhua reported that group 03 launched from Taiyuan at 00:34 Beijing time on September 7, 2025, aboard a modified Long March-6 and entered preset orbits. It gave the same stated purpose.
- Xinhua reported that group 02 launched from Taiyuan at 21:27 Beijing time on May 11, 2025, aboard a modified Long March-6 and entered planned orbit for the same stated use.
Why the Q4 launch schedule is described as busy
Science and Aerospace says the two September launches brought China to 70 orbital launch attempts in 2026 and that the country aims to exceed 100 by year-end. Taking those figures as reported, the arithmetic is straightforward: 100 minus 70 is 30, so exceeding 100 requires at least 31 additional attempts during Q4. This is an implication of the reported count and target, not confirmation that those launches will happen.
The report identifies Shenzhou-24 as likely around November and lists possible further missions, including Guowang and Qianfan constellation launches and debuts of several launch vehicles. It does not provide a complete official Q4 manifest. Treat these as prospective missions rather than a settled timetable; dates and launches can change.
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Confirmed events versus Q4 expectations
| Item | Status | What is established |
|---|---|---|
| Guowang group 26 | Reported completed | Science and Aerospace reports a September 23 launch from Hainan on Long March 8A and arrival in planned orbits. |
| Yaogan-40 group 04 | Reported completed | Science and Aerospace reports a September 24 launch from Taiyuan on Long March 6A, carrying three satellites. |
| Shenzhou-24 | Likely, not confirmed in the report | Science and Aerospace places it around November. |
| Other Q4 missions | Possible | The report mentions Guowang and Qianfan constellation launches and several vehicle debuts, without establishing a complete official manifest. |
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