China has launched a powerful rocket— Jielong-3 that is said to carry at least 20 satellites into space under globally competitive rates.
According to the Reuters report, Jielong-3 can carry a 1,500 kg (3,300 pounds) payload into a 500-km sun-synchronous orbit. China Rocket Co has previously said the rocket could carry over 20 satellites at a launch cost of under $10,000 per kg - a globally competitive rate for small-lift rockets, it mentioned.
“The cost is similar to the launches of other Chinese small-lift rockets including the Long March 11, but their payload sizes are significantly smaller,” the report mentioned.
The Jielong-3, also called as Smart Dragon-3, blasted off from a floating barge off the coast of Yangjiang in southern Guangdong province.
China’s President Xi Jinping has called for the expansion of strategic industries including the commercial space sector, deemed key to building constellations of satellites for communications, remote sensing and navigation.
Critical to the construction of commercial satellite networks is The The report said China's ability to open more launch windows, expand rocket types to accommodate different payload sizes, lower launch costs, and increase the number of launch sites such as building more spaceports and using sea launch vessels.
Jielong-3 is comparable to the powerful Lijian-1, which first flew in 2022.
Developed by CAS Space, a Guangzhou-headquartered commercial spinoff of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijian-1 can also send a 1,500 kg payload to a 500-km sun-synchronous orbit.
