China’s aerospace program achieved another milestone on December 10, 2025, with the successful launch of the Lijian 1 (Kinetica 1 Y11) carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The mission, which commenced at precisely 12:03 pm Beijing Time, marked a significant advancement in China’s commercial space capabilities and international space cooperation.
The launch originated from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone, a dedicated facility supporting China’s growing private space industry. The rocket performed flawlessly, transporting nine satellites into their predetermined orbits with precision engineering. Among the deployed payloads was the UAE’s ‘813’ satellite, a sophisticated Earth observation instrument designed for comprehensive environmental monitoring.
This mission represents the eleventh flight of the Lijian 1 rocket series, demonstrating China’s consistent progress in reusable rocket technology and satellite deployment capabilities. The international collaboration aspect is particularly noteworthy, as the UAE satellite joins China’s own constellation of Earth observation and communication satellites.
The successful deployment underscores China’s expanding role in the global space economy, offering reliable launch services to international partners while advancing its own technological infrastructure. The mission also highlights the increasing importance of public-private partnerships in space exploration, with commercial entities playing a crucial role in China’s space ambitions.
This achievement follows China’s recent advancements in space station construction, lunar exploration, and Mars missions, positioning the country as a comprehensive space power with both government-led and commercially-driven space capabilities.