Why is China racing to dominate space with 72 launches this year

China’s latest milestone in space marks an acceleration few nations have matched, with 72 orbital launches completed by November 2025. This record places China neck-and-neck with the United States, as the global competition for leadership in commercial and strategic aerospace intensifies.

The surge in launches arises from both state ambitions and a growing commercial sector, with the Guowang internet mega-constellation at the forefront.

China’s government-backed space infrastructure now aims for worldwide connectivity and strategic influence in orbit.

How did China achieve 72 space launches in 2025

China’s latest record was sealed after nine satellites lifted off aboard a Long March-12 carrier rocket from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center on November 10.

A burst of activity over the preceding weekend helped push the total past the previous annual record; four rockets were launched in three days, including both state and private operators, highlighting new competition among launch providers.

The country’s launch pace sharply accelerated in late 2024 and 2025, powered by government plans, increased manufacturing, and more commercial contracts.

The state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation continues to lead most flights, but privately developed rockets are adding quickly to the annual count.

This multi-provider strategy, combined with a growing national rocket fleet, has propelled China into the elite of space-faring nations.

Did you know?
As of 2025, China’s Long March rocket fleet reached 600 flights since its debut in 1970, with the last 100 launches occurring in under two years.

What is driving the Guowang internet constellation push

Of the 72 launches, a significant fraction have supported Guowang, the Chinese state-backed answer to SpaceX’s Starlink. Guowang, short for “national network,” will eventually feature some 13,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, aiming to bring Internet connectivity across China and neighboring regions before expanding to global coverage.

The launch on November 10 carried the 13th batch, raising the number of Guowang satellites in orbit to 104.

China Satellite Network Group operates Guowang and represents the government’s vision for digital sovereignty, global competitiveness, and a stake in commercial satellite internet services.

Comparison to Starlink is frequent, but China’s project has ambitions beyond communication, including imaging, navigation, and strategic data-sharing capabilities for military use and disaster response.

Building out the constellation depends on a steady cadence of launches, prompting China’s aggressive schedule in 2025.

How does China’s launch pace compare globally in 2025

While China reached 72 launches with two months remaining in the year, the United States has conducted over 150 orbital missions in 2025, most led by SpaceX’s rapid-fire Falcon 9 program.

SpaceX alone flew approximately 143 times this year, buoyed by demand for Starlink and mass manufacturing advantages.

China’s ascent is still remarkable, considering that in 2024 its launch tally was 68, but matching the US cadence remains a major strategic hurdle.

A comparison of orbital infrastructure shows China steadily ramping up, with the Long March family supporting most launches and a growing number of commercial and reusable rockets.

Despite the impressive acceleration, Starlink’s global coverage and US launch rates still outpace Chinese efforts, emphasizing the challenge Beijing faces in closing the technological and logistical gap.

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What makes the Long March-12 rocket unique

The Long March-12, making only its third flight for this record-breaking mission, stands apart for technical and industrial innovation in China’s space program.

The rocket measures 62.6 meters in height and features a 3.8-meter primary core diameter, a first for China, that exceeds the previous design limit of 3.35 meters set in the 1960s.

The greater diameter significantly increases payload capacity, allowing up to 12 tonnes to low Earth orbit.

High-profile Guowang launches from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center are now possible thanks to the Long March-12’s power and adaptability.

This model is already being eyed for future reusable variants, which could further accelerate China’s orbital launch cadence and reduce costs.

The rocket is widely viewed as a symbol of China’s ambition to rival established global launch systems and foster commercial space development.

How will China’s growing space capacity affect the future?

China’s new record sets a powerful precedent for the commercial and strategic space sector. Upgrades at launch sites in Hainan and plans for additional pads are expected to raise maximum annual launch capacity to 60 or more by 2026, with new telemetry and technical facilities to match.

Reusable rocket technology and a surge in private sector launches will likely transform China’s aerospace economy and its posture in the global space race.

The coming years could see China further challenge the market dominance of US providers, expand global satellite internet offerings, and integrate orbital assets with national security capabilities.

With the gap narrowing, Beijing’s focus on innovation, infrastructure, and launch efficiency may well redefine the global aerospace landscape for both commercial and strategic players.

China’s achievement in 2025 is just the beginning. As advances in reusable rocketry, launch site expansion, and military-civil integration accelerate, China aims to become a worldwide space leader by the close of the decade.