Science, Discovery, Tech and Environment · 24 July 2026

China Launches Gravity-1 Rocket with Nine Satellites

Exam-focused facts from the 24 July 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

  • Chinese private company Orienspace successfully launched its Gravity-1 rocket from a sea-based platform in the East China Sea.
  • The rocket placed nine satellites into their intended orbits.
  • This was the third successful flight of the Gravity-1 launch vehicle.
  • The launch was conducted from a mobile sea-launch platform off the coast of Shanghai.
  • Sea-based launches offer greater flexibility in launch trajectories and reduce risks to populated areas.
  • Gravity-1 is designed to serve the small and medium satellite market, and its successor Gravity-2 is under development.

View this story in the full daily briefing

Earlier coverage selected by topic similarity to help connect developments over time.

China launches Pakistani satellite PRSC-EO3

China launched the Pakistani satellite PRSC-EO3 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi Province. The satellite was launched using a Long March-6 carrier rocket.