Object F

Description

Object F is the sixth of a group of nine Guowang communication satellites that comprise SatNet LEO Group 24. They flew in a southeasterly direction and into LEO to join the Guowang (“National Network”) Internet Communication Megaconstellation. This Chinese state-owned network is also referred to as Hulianwang or Xingwang and it is operated by the China Satellite Network Group.

The mission is to create a system of worldwide internet coverage and the constellation is expected to expand rapidly in the coming months. Should launches continue at this rate, the constellation will likely fulfill its goal of deploying about 13,000 satellites into orbit and becoming a reliable internet provider for the Chinese people.

Guowang satellites are understood to target a higher altitude than Starlink and Kuiper satellites at around 1,100 km, and lower than OneWeb’s constellation which orbits at around 1,200 km. Each individual satellite on this platform weighs approximately 695 kilograms.

The rocket body for this mission, the CZ-12 (Long March 12), is China's newest medium-lift, two-stage cryogenic rocket. Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), it serves as a commercial workhorse primarily optimized for deploying massive internet constellations into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

This was Long March 12’s 7th mission and the 194th orbital launch attempt of 2026.