China Launches LEO Satellites to Compete with Starlink Using Smart Dragon-3 and Lijian-1 Rockets

China has advanced its orbital internet ambitions with the successful sea launch of a Smart Dragon-3 carrier rocket carrying a test satellite for space-based internet technology, marking another step in its effort to establish a sovereign Low Earth Orbit communications network to rival Western megaconstellations like Starlink.

The launch took place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 7:32 p.m. Beijing Time from a mobile sea-based platform off the coast of Yangjiang in Guangdong province, according to the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre. The mission utilized the Smart Dragon-3 (SD-3) rocket, a four-stage solid-propellant vehicle developed by the First Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

This flight represented the 11th successful launch of the Smart Dragon-3 vehicle, which has now conducted all of its missions from sea-based platforms since its maiden flight in December 2022. The rocket is capable of delivering up to 1,500 kilograms to a 500-kilometer Sun-Synchronous Orbit and features a maximum diameter of 2.64 meters, offering operational flexibility through optimized launch azimuths and reduced risk to populated areas.

The payload, designated as a “satellite internet technology support” satellite, is part of the ongoing validation phase for high-speed orbital data transmission and inter-satellite links. This launch supports China’s broader “Thousand Sails” (G60 Starlink) and “Guowang” constellations, which aim to provide global broadband coverage from Low Earth Orbit.

As of March 2026, China had successfully deployed approximately 160 operational satellites within its primary internet networks. The sea-launch capability of the Smart Dragon-3 allows for greater launch frequency and flexibility, contributing to China’s strategy to lower the cost-per-kilogram for small and medium satellite deployments while expanding its orbital infrastructure.

The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre managed the mission, continuing China’s pattern of using offshore launch sites to support its growing spaceflight cadence. Previous Smart Dragon-3 launches have included deployments for the CentiSpace network, which focuses on high-performance occultation detection, ionospheric data acquisition, and inter-satellite laser networking communication.