Wenchang reaches 50th launch and records third failure as China deploys AI satellites
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China's Wenchang Space Launch Site marked its 50th launch on July 29 with a Chang Zheng 7A carrying the Tianlian-3-01 relay satellite. The Hainan complex deployed nine Guowang internet satellites on Aug. 4 and recorded its third launch failure this week. Preparations for the Chang'e-7 lunar south pole mission continue as Galactic Energy nears its Zhishenxing-1 debut and LandSpace awaits weather for a ZhuQue-3 first-stage recovery.
Wenchang Milestone
Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island marked its 50th launch on July 29 with a Chang Zheng 7A carrying the Tianlian-3-01 relay satellite. Tianlian-3 satellites use the Dongfanghong-4E geostationary bus and support multiple simultaneous data links for the Tiangong space station, with a 15-year design life. The site's first launch, a Chang Zheng 7, took place in June 2016; since then Wenchang has launched the Tianhe, Wentian and Mengtian station modules, ten Tianzhou cargo missions, the Tianwen-1 Mars probe, and the two most recent Chang'e lunar missions.
Commercial Expansion
The Hainan complex has exceeded 70 launches, including traffic from Commercial LC-1 and LC-2 pads operated by Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Company (HICAL). Construction of commercial pads 3 and 4 began in January 2025 and is nearing completion; HICAL expects first launch from the new pads by the end of 2026, with capacity up to three launches per month per pad and the Chang Zheng 10B likely to debut there. On Aug. 4, an upgraded Chang Zheng 8A deployed the ninth batch of Guowang internet satellites directly into a 1,156 km orbit inclined 50 degrees, the first such direct insertion.
Third Launch Failure
Wenchang recorded its third launch failure this week, though the vehicle and payload were not detailed in the NASASpaceFlight report. Other Chinese launch sites have remained active as the country deploys more AI-powered and in-space computing technology to orbit. Galactic Energy is close to the debut of its Zhishenxing-1 rocket, while LandSpace awaits a break in the weather to attempt recovery of the first stage of its ZhuQue-3 rocket.
What's Next
HICAL expects at least one launch from the new commercial pads by the end of 2026, while Galactic Energy and LandSpace prepare their next flights in the coming weeks. It remains unclear whether the third failure will affect the cadence of Wenchang's lunar and commercial missions.
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Wenchang reaches 50th launch and records third failure as China deploys AI satellites
