China achieved another milestone in its commercial space program on Monday with the successful offshore launch of a CERES-1 carrier rocket, which deployed four Tianqi satellites into their designated orbits.

The rocket lifted off at 3:38 p.m. Beijing Time from waters off the coast of eastern Shandong Province, in a mission carried out by the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The launch marks a significant step forward for China’s expanding commercial aerospace capabilities and reinforces the nation’s growing role in satellite-based communications.

The Tianqi satellites are part of a low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation aimed at enhancing China's Internet of Things (IoT) services. Once fully operational, the network will provide global coverage to support industrial applications, emergency response systems, and smart city infrastructure.

This latest offshore launch highlights China’s innovative approach to space access, allowing greater flexibility in launch scheduling and improved safety margins for densely populated inland regions.

The CERES-1 rocket, developed by Chinese commercial space company Galactic Energy, has now added another successful mission to its record, underscoring the competitiveness of China’s private space sector.

With the successful deployment of the four new satellites, the Tianqi constellation continues to grow as part of China’s long-term strategy to strengthen its presence in the commercial space and satellite communications industry. (ILKHA)