China Launches Experimental Satellite to Test Direct Phone-to-Space Broadband on 646th Long March Flight
Updated
Updated · RBC-Ukraine · May 31
China Launches Experimental Satellite to Test Direct Phone-to-Space Broadband on 646th Long March Flight
6 articles · Updated · RBC-Ukraine · May 31
China put an experimental satellite into its designated orbit on May 31, launching it from Xichang at 02:07 Beijing time aboard a Long March 2D rocket.
The spacecraft will test next-generation satellite internet technology, including direct broadband links between standard mobile phones and space and integration of orbital and ground networks.
The launch was the 646th mission in the Long March rocket series, underscoring Beijing's steady expansion of communications and space infrastructure.
That push comes as China broadens its orbital program with Tiangong missions, a planned 2030 Moon landing and wider research into long-term human activity in space amid intensifying U.S.-China competition.
China is entering the satellite internet race. Can it compete with rivals like Starlink without reusable rockets?
China's new satellite blurs civilian and military lines. Is an arms race in space now unavoidable?
With thousands of new satellites planned, who will govern our increasingly crowded and contested orbital space?
China’s 2026 Satellite Internet Push: Direct-to-Phone Connectivity, National Strategy, and Global Competition
Overview
On May 31, 2026, China successfully launched an experimental satellite using the Long March-2D rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, marking the 646th mission for the Long March series. This launch is a major step in China's push for advanced internet technologies, especially direct-to-phone connectivity from space. The satellite precisely entered its planned orbit and is designed to test cutting-edge satellite internet capabilities. This achievement highlights China's ongoing commitment to expanding its space technology and building a robust infrastructure for next-generation communication services.