Qianfan would need seven launches over the next seven weeks to deploy 124 additional satellites if it uses groups of 18 satellites per launch.
Beijing is backing private entities to build low-Earth orbit internet networks, including the Qianfan (Thousand Sails) and Guowang satellite constellations.
Guodian Gaoke signed a memorandum of understanding for Qianfan’s connectivity services in February 2025.
Shanghai Spacesail Technologies says Qianfan has completed the networking needed to begin supporting automatic identification systems for maritime vessel connectivity.
Each Qianfan satellite is believed to weigh 300 kilograms and use a flat-pack design with a single solar array.
Each Qianfan satellite uses an electric hall-effect thruster burning krypton to generate 20 millinewtons of thrust with a specific impulse of 1,385 seconds.
The June 5 Long March 8 launch carried eighteen Qianfan satellites into a polar orbit.
The eighteen satellites launched on June 5 were the twelfth overall group of the Qianfan constellation.
The June 5 launch brought Qianfan’s total launched satellite count to 200.
Qianfan aims to provide space-based internet connectivity services in China and abroad, including Brazil, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, and airline users.
The Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences produced the eighteen Qianfan satellites launched on June 5.
Qianfan has approval to operate 15,000 satellites in total.
The Qianfan mega-constellation is operated by Shanghai Spacesail Technologies Co Ltd.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Commercial Launch Vehicle Group managed the June 5 Qianfan launch on behalf of Shanghai Spacesail Technologies.
Qianfan’s deployment plan calls for 324 satellites launched in 2026, another 324 in 2027, 4,000 in 2028 and 2029, and 5,000 in 2030.
The first Long March 12B rocket carried Qianfan constellation satellites.
Zhuque-2E conducted launch testing of a payload adapter for Qianfan satellites less than a month before its scheduled June 9, 2026 launch.
Genesat produced the two Qianfan satellites launched on the Long March 12B.
The Long March 12B carried two Qianfan satellites on its debut flight.
Shanghai Spacesail Technologies Co Ltd operates the Qianfan mega-constellation, also known as SpaceSail.