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Qianfan Constellation Completes a 20-Satellite Single-Launch Mission, Raising In-Orbit Units to 238
2026-07-06
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Impact score: 36
On July 5 at 21:43 CST, Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Co. successfully launched the Qianfan networking satellites via a Long March 8A rocket from the Hainan International Commercial Space Launch Center, deploying 20 satellites in a single launch—doubling the previous stacking record of 10. This brought the total number of Qianfan satellites in orbit to 238. Just one day earlier, on July 4, a 13th batch of 18 satellites was launched from Taiyuan via a Long March 6A rocket. During MWC26 Shanghai, Yuanxin Satellite’s CEO revealed that the Qianfan constellation will complete its first-phase deployment of 324 satellites by the end of 2026, officially starting global commercial services. The constellation will evolve beyond communications into a comprehensive strategic space infrastructure integrating communication, navigation, remote sensing, computing, intelligence, and security. Based on the current fleet of 238 satellites, the first-phase deployment is approximately 37% complete.
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千帆星座完成“一箭20星”发射，在轨卫星增至238颗
7月5日21时43分，垣信卫星在海南国际商业发射场首次使用长征八号甲运载火箭，以“一箭20星”方式成功发射千帆组网卫星，平板卫星堆叠规模首次提升至20星。至此千帆星座在轨卫星总数达238颗。此前7月4日，第十三批18颗卫星已由长征六号甲在太原发射升空。垣信卫星CEO在MWC26上海期间透露，千帆星座将于2026年底完成一阶段324星全球组网，正式面向全球提供服务并启动商业化运营。星座不会止步于通信功能，将逐步升级为通、导、遥、算、智、安六位一体的综合性战略级空间基础设施。以当前238颗在轨规模计算，一期组网进度约37%。