China ends 2025 with a successful dual‑satellite launch of the Shiyan‑29 mission
At 6:40 a.m. on December 31, China's Long March 7A launch vehicle lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site, sending the Shiyan‑29 A and B satellites into their planned orbit. The mission was completed successfully, marking a strong finish to China's 2025 launch schedule.
This launch served as the final mission of the year for the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). Throughout 2025, CALT completed 44 launch missions in total, achieving a perfect success record and setting a new annual high for the organization.
The Long March 7A is China's new‑generation medium‑lift rocket designed for high‑orbit missions. The Shiyan‑29 satellites launched this time weigh 7 tons, making them the heaviest high‑orbit payload ever carried by the Long March 7A to date.
In 2025 alone, the Long March 7A completed six missions, the highest annual count for this model. To date, the rocket has flown 14 times, with its technical configuration and operational processes now considered mature and stable. The launch‑site workflow has been compressed to just 19 days, improving its ability to support high‑frequency missions in the future.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Long March 7 series is already fully booked with missions, and the Long March 7A is expected to set another record for annual launch frequency as China continues expanding its spaceflight cadence.
The Long March rocket family is developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), a core subsidiary of the state‑owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Founded in 1957, CALT is China's oldest and largest launch‑vehicle manufacturer, responsible for nearly all of the country's orbital rockets. The Long March series has supported China's major space milestones, including crewed Shenzhou missions, lunar exploration programs, and high‑orbit communications satellites. CALT continues to expand its capabilities with new‑generation liquid‑fuel rockets designed for higher efficiency, heavier payloads, and increased launch frequency.
