# Long March 8 Successfully Launches SpaceSail Polar Group 07

A Long March 8 rocket successfully lifted off from Wenchang Space Launch Site on April 7, 2026, carrying 18 low Earth orbit communication satellites for the G60 constellation. Operated by Shanghai Spacesail Technologies and funded by the Shanghai municipal government, the payload features advanced Ku, Q, and V band communication capabilities designed to provide global connectivity services. This mission represents a significant expansion of China's indigenous satellite constellation efforts.

The Long March 8, operated by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, launched from the Wenchang facility on China's Hainan Island. This medium-lift vehicle is part of China's evolved launch family and continues to demonstrate reliability for dedicated smallsat missions to low Earth orbit.

The successful deployment adds another batch of satellites to the G60 constellation, which aims to achieve an initial operational constellation of 1,296 satellites by 2027. Shanghai Spacesail Technologies has announced ambitious long-term expansion plans targeting 12,000 satellites, positioning the G60 constellation as a major competitor in the emerging global LEO communications market alongside existing mega-constellation initiatives.