On the morning of September 16, the Yinli-1 Yao-3 launch vehicle (YL-3Y3) lifted off from the East China Sea, successfully delivering eight Qianfan constellation network satellites and one ultra-high-speed wireless communication technology test satellite into their预定 orbits. The mission was declared a complete success.

Just roughly 16 hours earlier, the Zhuque-2 Improved Yao-7 rocket (ZQ-2EY7) had smoothly placed ten satellites from the 19th batch of the Qianfan polar orbit group into space.

Within two days, two different commercial rocket models completed consecutive launches, both carrying payloads for the same client: the Qianfan constellation networking satellites operated by Yuanxin Satellite.

Commercial Rockets Achieve First Batch Deployment of a Satellite Internet Constellation

Terms like "first" or "only" are easily devalued in the commercial aerospace sector, so the defining context must be clarified: this marks the first time a Chinese commercial rocket has conducted a batch deployment launch for a low-orbit internet constellation.

Over the past two years, Qianfan launches had been almost exclusively handled by the Long March rocket family, with models like the Long March 6A, Long March 8, Long March 8A, and Long March 12B taking turns.

Previously, commercial rockets had launched satellite internet payloads, but these were primarily experimental or verification satellites. For instance, in June 2026, the Zhuque-2E Yao-6 from Landspace sent up the Qianfan DTC-01 satellite, a direct-to-phone technology validation unit.

The significant hurdle crossed now is the batch launch of正式 networking satellites. Launching multiple flat-panel satellites at once (a standard轨道 consists of 36 satellites, which can be split into smaller batches) requires simultaneously solving challenges related to stacking structures, satellite-rocket interfaces, separation sequences, and orbital precision.

After more than 11 years of development in China's private commercial aerospace sector, this finally marks the arrival of large-scale constellation deployment launches. The significance of these two rockets sending 18 Qianfan satellites into orbit on the 15th and 16th is precisely this milestone.

Which Other Commercial Rockets Are Queuing Up for Qianfan Missions?

The roster of launch service providers for Qianfan is shifting from a "national team only" model to a "national team plus commercial team" structure.

In fact, Yuanxin Satellite began both private and public tenders for rocket launch services several years ago. According to the "2025 Launch Vehicle Launch Service Procurement Project" announcement, the company once allocated 1.336 billion yuan for seven launch services, with the requirement that bidders possess a proven track record of successful flights.

In February 2025, Yuanxin's first public tender for launch services failed due to fewer than three suppliers registering. In August 2025, Package One of the launch service tender (one rocket carrying 10 satellites, valued at 616 million yuan) was also declared failed for the same reason. Package Two (one rocket carrying 18 satellites, valued at 720 million yuan), which relaxed requirements to allow models that had not yet completed their maiden flights, successfully opened and saw Landspace, Space Pioneer, and CAS Space take the top three winning positions.

According to the tender documents, commercial rockets matching the "10 satellites per launch" requirement included the Zhuque-2 Improved (ZQ2-E) and the Yinli-1 (YL-1). For the "18 satellites per launch" capability with successful flight records, candidates included the Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) and the Lijian-2 (PR-2).

Other rockets such as the Zhishenxing-1, Tianlong-3, and Shuangquxian-3 could also become备选 launch vehicles for Qianfan if they meet capacity requirements and achieve successful flights.

The Zhishenxing-1 (PALLAS-1) completed its maiden flight successfully in Jiuquan on September 1. If its payload capacity can be upgraded to 2.8 tons for a 950 km polar orbit, it may qualify as a launch service provider. The Tianlong-3 (TL-3) suffered a failure on its first flight on April 3, but its review was completed on September 10, with the fault traced to liquid oxygen being drawn to the rocket's base during flight, causing secondary combustion of turbine exhaust that eroded the thermal protection structure. Space Pioneer has announced plans to re-fly the Tianlong-3's second rocket in the fourth quarter. The Shuangquxian-3 (SQX-3) is scheduled for its maiden flight in Wenchang by year-end, with a simultaneous attempt at a sea-based recovery (though some reports suggest early next year).

Based on these developments, up to seven types of commercial rockets could be available for Qianfan constellation deployment next year, making payload capacity and pricing the key competitive factors in the market.

Qianfan's Annual Target of 324 Satellites: 68 Still Await Launch

As of September 16, the Qianfan constellation had deployed 256 satellites, maintaining its position as the largest low-orbit internet constellation in China. Yuanxin Satellite has set a first-phase target of completing 324 satellites for global networking by the end of 2026, alongside the initiation of commercial operations.

That leaves a gap of 68 satellites, with only three and a half months remaining. A widely held consensus within the industry is that there is a shortage of available rockets. Among the existing Long March series, only a limited number are suitable for commercial constellation launches, and those are also needed for the Guowang constellation, leaving very few slots for Qianfan.

This assessment is easy to verify. As of September 16, 2026, China's Guowang constellation, led by China SatNet, had deployed 226 satellites, while Yuanxin Satellite's Qianfan constellation stood at 256 satellites, each achieving only about 1.7% of their respective total plans. Setting aside satellite production capacity, the biggest bottlenecks for constellation deployment are rockets, launch pads, and launch windows.

This is a race against the clock. The International Telecommunication Union operates a "first-come, first-served" policy for frequency and orbit resources. Satellites must be fully deployed within seven years of filing, or the rights are forfeited.

Time Waits for No One: Capital and Market Demand Urgency

While the plan to complete a 15,000-satellite network by 2030 has been slightly adjusted (with phased completion timelines extended), the overall goal remains unchanged. In August 2026, Yuanxin Satellite completed a 6.976 billion yuan capital increase, with 18 industrial investors participating, reaching a post-investment valuation of approximately 50 billion yuan, setting a new record for a single financing round in China's commercial aerospace sector. In early September, Hangzhou Alibaba Venture Capital and SAIC Motor's financial arm completed their share purchases, raising the registered capital to 2.484 billion yuan.

With state capital, industrial investors, and international market factors now part of the valuation model, the speed of constellation deployment and service revenue have become hard metrics. Yuanxin Satellite has clearly designated overseas markets as its first commercialization destination, having received regulatory approval in Brazil and initiated construction of a gateway station there. Gateway station projects are also progressing in Malaysia, while commercial negotiations are underway with more than thirty countries.

The prerequisite for all of this is deployment speed. Beyond speed, per-satellite costs and per-unit bandwidth costs must be driven down to levels that can compete head-on in overseas markets. Sixty-eight satellites in three and a half months, this is the remaining task for Qianfan, and it is also one of the key checkpoints for the completion of China's satellite internet construction ambitions.