Chinese satellite internet mission rounds off record year for global launches

HELSINKI — China launched three low Earth orbit broadband test satellites Friday, completing a record-breaking year for launches globally. A Long March 2C rocket lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert at 7:13 p.m. Dec. 29 (0013 UTC, Dec. 30). The China Aerospace Science and Technology Group (CASC) confirmed launch success and revealed the passengers to be three satellite Internet technology test satellites. U.S. Space Force space domain awareness later tracked three objects in roughly 930 by 940-kilometer orbits with an inclination of 50 degrees. The satellites were developed by the China Academy of Space Technology…