Long March 8 | SpaceSail Polar Group #9
Long March 8 launched the SpaceSail Polar Group #9 mission for China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China on May 17, 2026 (UTC).
Launch pad
Commercial LC-1 · Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Long March 8 | SpaceSail Polar Group #9
Launched May 17, 2026 11:42:00 PMSuccess
19 objects in orbit now
Flight direction
179° S
measured from the launched orbit · inclination 89.0°
Flight path
First-stage drop zone (rough estimate)
Drawn 400–700 km downrange along the flight direction. Official hazard areas are published as NOTAMs and navigational warnings.
About the mission
18 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites with Ku, Q and V band payloads for the G60 constellation operated by Shanghai Spacesail Technologies with funding backed by the Shanghai local government. Initial constellation will consist of 1296 satellites by 2027 with long term plans to expand it to 12000 satellites.
Mission description from Launch Library 2.
Objects from this launch still in orbit
- QIANFAN-145 · NORAD 69104
- QIANFAN-146 · NORAD 69105
- QIANFAN-147 · NORAD 69106
- QIANFAN-148 · NORAD 69107
- QIANFAN-149 · NORAD 69108
- QIANFAN-150 · NORAD 69109
- QIANFAN-151 · NORAD 69110
- QIANFAN-152 · NORAD 69111
- QIANFAN-153 · NORAD 69112
- QIANFAN-154 · NORAD 69113
- QIANFAN-155 · NORAD 69114
- QIANFAN-156 · NORAD 69115
- QIANFAN-157 · NORAD 69116
- QIANFAN-158 · NORAD 69117
- QIANFAN-159 · NORAD 69118
- QIANFAN-160 · NORAD 69119
- QIANFAN-161 · NORAD 69120
- QIANFAN-162 · NORAD 69121
- CZ-8 R/B · NORAD 69122
- Launch time (your time zone)
- Sun, May 17 · 11:42:00 PM
- Status
- Success
- Launch provider
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
- Rocket
- Long March 8
- Mission type
- Communications
- Target orbit
- PO
- Launch pad
- Commercial LC-1 · Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China