Communication satellite of Beijing-based company sent into orbit

A broadband communication satellite, developed by a Beijing-based company, was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 11:02am Thursday (Beijing Time).

The satellite, the first one of the Beijing-based GalaxySpace, was sent into its planned orbit by a Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) carrier rocket.

Deployed in low-Earth orbit (LEO), the satellite has a communication capacity up to 10Gbps. Relative technological tests will be conducted on the satellite.

GalaxySpace aims to build a LEO broadband satellite constellation and create a global 5G communication network.

KZ-1A is a low-cost solid-fuel carrier rocket with high reliability and a short preparation period. The rocket, developed by a company under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, is mainly used to launch LEO small satellites.

Thursday's launch is the eighth mission of the KZ-1A carrier rocket.