China’s Space Agency Aims for 100 Launches in 2024

Shenzhen Business Daily – China’s space industry is expected to carry out approximately 100 launch missions throughout the year, potentially setting a new record. The country’s first commercial space launch center will witness its inaugural launch mission, with multiple satellite constellations speeding up network construction. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation plans to arrange nearly 70 aerospace launch missions, launching over 290 spacecraft and executing a series of major engineering tasks.

On February 26th, the aerospace technology corporation unveiled the “China Aerospace Technology Activities Blue Book (2023)” in Beijing, presenting an overview of the space missions in 2024.

In 2024, the aerospace technology corporation plans to arrange nearly 70 aerospace launch missions, launching over 290 spacecraft and executing a series of major engineering tasks. This includes the maiden flights of the Long March 6B and Long March 12 carrier rockets; transitioning the space station into regular operational mode, completing two cargo spacecraft launches, two crewed spacecraft launches, and two return missions within the year; advancing the Lunar Exploration Program’s Phase Four, launching the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, the Chang’e-6 lunar probe, and achieving the world’s first lunar south pole sampling return on the moon’s far side; launching the ocean salinity detection satellite, electromagnetic monitoring satellite 02, Sino-French astronomy satellite, and the PRSS-19 satellite, among several civilian satellites, to meet various industry user application needs; and accelerating the construction of the aerospace technology corporation’s “new generation commercial remote sensing satellite system.” (Source: Xinhua News Agency)