8 November 2025 solid-propellant rocket Long March 11 launched from a mobile launch pad off the coast of Haiyan, Shandong province. Confirmation of successful launch from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (Hull) arrived only almost eight hours after the start, although successful missions are usually announced about an hour after liftoff, depending on the orbit, payload and launch vehicle. The delay prompted speculation about a possible problem with the rocket or payload.
CASC eventually declared the launch a success, having revealed, that the payload was Shiyan-32 satellites (01, 02 and 03). The space and defense giant described the satellites as "mainly designed to conduct experiments with new space technologies", without providing further details. Satellite 02 developed by the Microsatellite Innovation Academy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAMCAS).
Shiyan missions are usually hidden from the general public, but external analysts believe, that Shiyan satellites are used to test new systems, such as sensors, communication subsystems and devices for environmental monitoring, which is part of China's efforts to validate new space technologies in orbit. Companions of this series, looks like, were used for a wide range of purposes, including a technology demonstration, monitoring of the space environment, electronic intelligence, remote sensing, space situational awareness and space operations, such as approaches and maneuvers in close proximity.
A few hours after Shiyan, the commercial launch of CAS Space took place. The Kinetica-1 solid-fuel rocket launched from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Area at the Jiuquan Space Launch Center in northwest China. The mission carried the Chutian-2 technological experimental satellites 01 and 02. The satellites are owned by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) Space Engineering Development, subsidiary of the second academy CASIC. Chutian is a key project for Wuhan's commercial aerospace chain and constellation test in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), aimed at testing the possibilities of remote sensing of the Earth and data processing with high resolution and spectral capability.
CAS Space stated, that plans to launch another Kinetica rocket at the end of November this year, along with the first suborbital flight of the Lihong-1 rocket. These two launches became China's 69th and 70th orbital launches in 2025 year, which means, that the country surpassed the previous record in 68 launches per calendar year, installed in 2024 year, at the same time, there are almost two months left until the end of the year.
Source: https://spacenews.com