China launches 7 satellites, including Pakistan’s PRSC‑EO2

KATHMANDU: China has successfully launched a Smart Dragon‑3 (SD‑3) commercial rocket from a sea platform off the coast of Yangjiang in southern China’s Guangdong Province, placing seven satellites into their planned orbits on Thursday afternoon.

The SD‑3 mission lifted off at 2:37 p.m. Beijing Time (0637 GMT) from waters in the South China Sea, marking another milestone in China’s expanding commercial space launch capabilities.

Among the group of satellites was Pakistan’s PRSC‑EO2 Earth observation satellite, developed by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).

Equipped with high‑resolution optical imaging technology, PRSC‑EO2 is intended to support a wide range of applications including land mapping, environmental monitoring, natural resource management, and disaster response for Pakistan.

The offshore launch mission was conducted by the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, a key facility in China’s growing space infrastructure.

This launch marks at least the fourth commercial mission for the Smart Dragon‑3 rocket, highlighting its versatility in deploying multiple payloads in a single flight.

The rocket is a solid‑propellant vehicle capable of delivering payloads of up to around 1,500 kilograms into low Earth orbit, making it suitable for multiple small satellite deployments.

China’s increasing use of sea‑based launch platforms gives its commercial space firms more flexibility with orbital insertions while reducing risk to populated areas — an approach also pioneered by other spacefaring nations.

Pakistani officials described the successful deployment of PRSC‑EO2 as a major step forward for their nation’s space program.

The satellite will improve continuity and accuracy of Earth observation data, bolstering planning, disaster assessment, and environmental research.

The mission further underscores ongoing China‑Pakistan cooperation in space technology, reflecting deepening ties in scientific and technological sectors.