A Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket carrying 10 satellites blasts off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, Oct. 14, 2026. China successfully launched a Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China on Wednesday. The rocket lifted off at 7:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) and deployed 10 satellites into their preset orbits. The flight test mission was declared a complete success. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

China successfully launched a Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China on Wednesday.

The rocket lifted off at 7:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) and deployed 10 satellites into their preset orbits.

The flight test mission was declared a complete success.

Eight satellites of the 02 group of a "star compute" plan, developed by Adaspace Technology Co., Ltd. (ADAspace) and designed to operate in dawn-dusk orbits, were included in the launch.

According to ADAspace, a commercial aerospace enterprise, these satellites carry high-performance computing payloads, high-speed inter-satellite and satellite-to-ground laser communication payloads, low-light cameras and other equipment.

They will conduct in-orbit verification of key technologies, such as liquid-cooled fluid loops at the 10,000-watt level, ultra-large deployable radiative cooling wings, full-domain laser communication networks and in-orbit training of foundation models.

ADAspace said it intends to carry out in-orbit tests of the 02 group satellites, advance technological iteration, and promote the space computing technology innovation and industry innovation.

The "star compute" plan is an ambitious project by the company to build AI space infrastructure composed of 2,800 computing satellites. The first group of satellites for the plan was successfully launched in May 2025. The third group is scheduled for orbital deployment in 2026. 

A Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket carrying 10 satellites blasts off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, Oct. 14, 2026. China successfully launched a Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China on Wednesday.

The rocket lifted off at 7:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) and deployed 10 satellites into their preset orbits.

The flight test mission was declared a complete success. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

A Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket carrying 10 satellites blasts off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, Oct. 14, 2026. China successfully launched a Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China on Wednesday.

The rocket lifted off at 7:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) and deployed 10 satellites into their preset orbits.

The flight test mission was declared a complete success. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

A Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket carrying 10 satellites blasts off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, Oct. 14, 2026. China successfully launched a Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China on Wednesday.

The rocket lifted off at 7:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) and deployed 10 satellites into their preset orbits.

The flight test mission was declared a complete success. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

A Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket carrying 10 satellites blasts off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, Oct. 14, 2026. China successfully launched a Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China on Wednesday.

The rocket lifted off at 7:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) and deployed 10 satellites into their preset orbits.

The flight test mission was declared a complete success. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)