Chinese Gravity-1 rocket launches new satellites from sea

A Gravity-1 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Shanghai, east China, July 22, 2026. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launched the commercial rocket at 10:54 a.m. (Beijing Time), placing nine satellites into their designated orbits. (Xinhua)

SHANGHAI, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday sent a Gravity-1 carrier rocket into space from waters off the coast of Shanghai in east China, marking a complete success for this flight test mission.

The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launched the commercial rocket at 10:54 a.m. (Beijing Time), placing nine satellites into their designated orbits.

The Gravity-1 carrier rocket made its debut flight in January 2024.

A Gravity-1 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Shanghai, east China, July 22, 2026. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launched the commercial rocket at 10:54 a.m. (Beijing Time), placing nine satellites into their designated orbits. (Xinhua)

A Gravity-1 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Shanghai, east China, July 22, 2026. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launched the commercial rocket at 10:54 a.m. (Beijing Time), placing nine satellites into their designated orbits. (Photo by Song Xiongye/Xinhua)

A Gravity-1 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Shanghai, east China, July 22, 2026. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launched the commercial rocket at 10:54 a.m. (Beijing Time), placing nine satellites into their designated orbits. (Xinhua)

A Gravity-1 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Shanghai, east China, July 22, 2026. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launched the commercial rocket at 10:54 a.m. (Beijing Time), placing nine satellites into their designated orbits. (Xinhua)

A Gravity-1 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Shanghai, east China, July 22, 2026. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launched the commercial rocket at 10:54 a.m. (Beijing Time), placing nine satellites into their designated orbits. (Xinhua)

A Gravity-1 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Shanghai, east China, July 22, 2026. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launched the commercial rocket at 10:54 a.m. (Beijing Time), placing nine satellites into their designated orbits. (Photo by Song Xiongye/Xinhua)

A Gravity-1 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Shanghai, east China, July 22, 2026. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launched the commercial rocket at 10:54 a.m. (Beijing Time), placing nine satellites into their designated orbits. (Photo by Song Xiongye/Xinhua)

A Gravity-1 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Shanghai, east China, July 22, 2026. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launched the commercial rocket at 10:54 a.m. (Beijing Time), placing nine satellites into their designated orbits. (Photo by Song Xiongye/Xinhua)