China launched its 28th group of low-orbit internet satellites on October 25, 2026, using a Long March 8A rocket from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. Liftoff occurred at 10:03 a.m. Beijing time, and the payloads reached their designated orbit, according to Xinhua’s launch report.
The China Academy of Space Technology developed the satellites. The announcement identified the mission by its deployment-group number but did not specify how many spacecraft it carried. The designation “28th group” describes a batch in the deployment sequence, rather than a total of 28 satellites.
The Long March 8A is designed to launch constellation spacecraft into medium and low Earth orbits. This flight supplied another group of communications spacecraft to China’s expanding orbital infrastructure. New Space Economy’s Chinese space-sector profile explains the distinction between the state-directed Guowang satellite internet program and other Chinese constellation projects.
Philippine Authorities Identify Debris Zones
The Philippine Space Agency confirmed the launch and published information about two projected debris zones. One lay within the Philippine exclusive economic zone; the other lay within Philippine archipelagic waters.
The agency received information about the areas through an aviation notice and distributed a pre-launch report to relevant authorities. The zones described where discarded rocket components were expected to fall. They were not reports of recovered debris or confirmed impacts.
Launch vehicles discard components as they ascend, including stages and payload fairings. Identifying their expected fall areas allows aviation and maritime authorities to account for the launch when assessing traffic through those locations.
PhilSA said the predicted zones did not cover inhabited areas or land features. Ships, fishing boats, and aircraft passing through the zones could encounter falling material. The agency advised people who find suspected debris to notify local authorities and avoid handling it because rocket components can retain hazardous substances.
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