China's Space Sector Accelerates: Long March-12 Deploys Internet Satellites While Galactic Energy Tests PALLAS-2 Engine

January 21, 2026

Beijing, China – January 21, 2026 – China's space ambitions continue to surge forward on dual fronts: state-led orbital deployments and private-sector reusability breakthroughs. In the span of just days, the country achieved a successful satellite launch using the reliable Long March-12 rocket and completed critical engine testing for a next-generation heavy-lift reusable vehicle, signaling deepening maturity in both commercial and national space capabilities.

On Monday afternoon, January 19, 2026, at 15:48 Beijing Time (07:48 GMT), a **Long March-12** carrier rocket roared off the launch pad at the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site on Hainan Island. The mission, designated as the 19th batch of China's low-orbit internet constellation satellites, placed the payloads precisely into their intended orbit. GalaxySpace, the Beijing-based private satellite manufacturer responsible for designing and building these spacecraft, confirmed the launch's full success via official channels shortly after separation.

This deployment marks the second such mission in 2026 for the GuoWang (also known as SatNet) constellation project, following the 18th group launched just six days earlier from the same facility. GuoWang aims to create a domestic rival to global broadband networks like Starlink, with thousands of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites providing high-speed internet, direct-to-device connectivity, and backbone support for emerging 6G networks. GalaxySpace has emerged as a key industrial player, leveraging mass-production techniques to deliver satellites equipped with advanced phased-array antennas and inter-satellite laser links. While exact numbers for the January 19 batch were not publicly disclosed, recent missions have typically involved 10–20 satellites per flight, contributing to the constellation's rapid buildup toward operational coverage.

The Long March-12 itself represents a modern workhorse in China's launch family. Developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (part of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, CASC), the rocket debuted in late 2024 and has now flown five times without failure. With a liftoff thrust exceeding 1,000 tonnes and payload capacity of more than 12 tonnes to LEO, it offers cost-effective access for medium-sized constellations and scientific payloads. Its use at the commercial-oriented Wenchang site underscores China's strategy of blending state infrastructure with private-sector payloads to accelerate constellation deployment.

Just one day later, on Tuesday, January 20, private rocket developer **Galactic Energy** announced a major milestone: the successful hot-fire system test of the **CQ-90** liquid oxygen-kerosene engine, the core powerplant for its forthcoming large reusable rocket **PALLAS-2**. The test, conducted at Galactic Energy's facilities, verified the engine's full operational envelope, including ignition, stable combustion, thrust vector control (up to ±6 degrees in two axes), and deep throttling capability. According to Science and Technology Daily, combustion efficiency exceeded 96%, all telemetry parameters aligned with or surpassed design targets, and the engine demonstrated smooth shutdown—critical indicators for future reusability.

PALLAS-2 is designed as a heavy-lift, partially reusable vehicle with two main configurations:
- The baseline version features a 4.5-meter-diameter core stage, approximately 757 tonnes at liftoff, and generates around 910 tonnes of thrust, capable of delivering roughly 20 tonnes to low Earth orbit.
- An enhanced variant stacks additional boosters, pushing liftoff mass to nearly 1,950 tonnes and thrust to 2,730 tonnes, targeting payloads of up to 58 tonnes to LEO.

These performance figures place PALLAS-2 in direct competition with global heavy-lift reusable systems, including SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and the upcoming Starship. Galactic Energy's focus on liquid oxygen-kerosene (LOX/RP-1 equivalent) propulsion offers a proven, high-density propellant combination that balances performance, cost, and reusability potential. The successful CQ-90 test clears a major technical hurdle, paving the way for static-fire campaigns, stage integration, and an eventual maiden flight—potentially within the next 18–24 months if development timelines hold.

Together, these developments illustrate China's increasingly sophisticated space ecosystem. On one track, the state-driven Long March series and GuoWang constellation provide strategic infrastructure for national security, broadband equity, and technological sovereignty. On the parallel private track, companies like Galactic Energy are pushing boundaries in reusability, cost reduction, and heavy-lift capacity—areas where China previously lagged behind Western players.

The rapid cadence of GuoWang launches—now averaging multiple batches per month—demonstrates industrial scaling at a level comparable to Starlink's early deployment phase. GalaxySpace's role highlights the growing maturity of China's commercial satellite supply chain, capable of producing hundreds of units annually with integrated 5G/6G-compatible payloads. Meanwhile, Galactic Energy's engine success positions the company as a serious contender in the reusable heavy-lift market, potentially enabling lower-cost access to geostationary transfer orbits, lunar missions, and large constellation replenishments.

Challenges remain. Reusability demands not only engine reliability but also thermal protection, landing precision, and rapid refurbishment—hurdles that have taken SpaceX years to master. GuoWang faces spectrum coordination issues internationally and competition from established players like Starlink, OneWeb, and Amazon's Kuiper. Yet China's advantages include massive domestic demand, government subsidies for constellation rollout, and a vertically integrated supply chain that reduces reliance on foreign components.

As 2026 unfolds, these milestones suggest China is no longer merely catching up in space—it is setting the pace in certain domains. The Long March-12's steady cadence and PALLAS-2's engine progress are tangible steps toward a multi-polar space economy, where Beijing's blend of state power and private innovation reshapes global access to orbit. For observers, the message is clear: China's space sector is moving faster, higher, and with greater ambition than at any point in its history.