China Shatters Space Launch Record With 92 Orbital Missions in 2025

China broke its own space launch record in 2025, reaching 92 orbital missions by the end of the year. This figure surpasses the previous high of 68 launches in 2024 and marks a significant increase in the country's space activity. The surge also pushed the global total beyond 320 launches, well above 2024's 259 missions.

The year's final launch took place on 30 December, when a Long March 4B rocket carried the Tianhui-7 remote sensing satellite into orbit. Earlier the same day, a second mission deployed the Shijian-29 A and B satellites for space target detection tests.

China's record-breaking year was driven by two major satellite megaconstellations: Guowang and Qianfan, also known as Thousand Sails. These projects required frequent launches, boosting the country's overall numbers. New infrastructure also played a role, with the opening of the Hainan commercial spaceport and expansions at Jiuquan increasing capacity.

The Tianhui-7 satellite, launched in the final mission, was placed into a roughly circular 485-kilometre sun-synchronous orbit. Designed for high-precision mapping, it aims to deliver world-class resolution in survey tasks.

2025 also saw the debut of three new rocket models. The Zhuque-3, developed by private firm i-Space, first flew on 22 April from Liuhe in Shandong. Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 followed on 17 November from Xichang, while Galactic Energy's Pallas-1 made its inaugural launch on 22 December from Jiuquan. Additionally, the Long March 8A and Long March 12A rockets completed their first flights during the year.

The Shijian-29 A and B satellites, launched earlier on the same day as Tianhui-7, were deployed for space-based target detection experiments. Their mission adds to China's growing capabilities in space situational awareness.

China's 92 launches in 2025 set a national record and contributed to a global surge in space activity. The expansion of launch sites, new rocket debuts, and large-scale satellite projects supported this growth. With advanced missions like Tianhui-7 and Shijian-29 now in orbit, the country continues to strengthen its position in the space sector.