Li Jian-1 Yao-13 Launches Five Satellites as Series Reaches 100-Orbit Milestone
Summary: On May 15, 2026 at 04:33 UTC (12:33 Beijing Time), CAS Space's Li Jian-1 Yao-13 rocket, also known as "China Has a Show," lifted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Experimental Zone, placing five satellites — including the Taijing-3 05A/05B, Tianyi-50, Tianyan-27, and Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D55 — into precise orbits via a "one rocket, five satellites" mission profile. This was the 13th flight of the Li Jian-1 rocket and the 14th launch of the broader Li Jian series, which has now delivered a cumulative 100 satellites to orbit with a total payload mass exceeding 18 tonnes, commanding the top market share in China's commercial launch services sector.
Mission Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Rocket | Li Jian-1 Yao-13 (Li Jian-1 #13) |
| Mission Name | "China Has a Show" (中国有戏号) |
| Launch Time | 2026-05-15 12:33 BJT (04:33 UTC) |
| Launch Site | Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Experimental Zone |
| Payloads | Taijing-3 05A/05B, Tianyi-50, Tianyan-27, Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D55, "Youxi" satellite (incl. Rongcheng-1 01/02), "Dianjian-1" |
| Orbit | Precise target orbit |
| Mission Number | Li Jian-1 13th flight; Li Jian series 14th launch |
| Milestone | 100 satellites delivered to orbit; 18+ tonnes cumulative payload mass |
Li Jian-1 Chief Designer Shi Xiaoning described the "100-satellite milestone" as a landmark achievement signifying CAS Space's complete transition from a research-focused organization to a professional, mature commercial launch service provider, having established a comprehensive and rigorous project management and full-process quality assurance system.
The "Youxi" (有戏号) satellite — the world's first integrated space-ground interactive cultural communication satellite — will further drive commercial space applications in cultural dissemination.
Payload Details
The "one rocket, five satellites" mission delivered the following satellites to orbit:
- Taijing-3 05A/05B: Optical Earth observation satellites
- Tianyi-50: Commercial remote sensing satellite
- Tianyan-27: Commercial communication/remote sensing satellite
- Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D55: High-resolution optical Earth observation satellite
- "Youxi" satellite (including "Rongcheng-1" 01/02 pair): World's first integrated space-ground interactive cultural communication satellite
- "Dianjian-1": Professional application satellite
Li Jian Series Milestone
The Li Jian-1 rocket, developed by CAS Space (中科宇航), is a solid-propellant launch vehicle with rapid response capabilities. Since its maiden flight, the Li Jian series has completed 14 successful launches, delivering 100 satellites to orbit with a cumulative payload mass exceeding 18 tonnes, holding the top market share in China's commercial launch services sector. The year 2026 is regarded as the "mass production inaugural year" for China's commercial rockets, and the Li Jian series' 100-satellite milestone marks a critical leap from single-mission verification toward high-density, low-cost, rapid-response, and scaled batch delivery.
Sources (original pages)
- China Successfully Launches Taijing-3 05A and Other Five Satellites — CCTV News
- Li Jian-1 Yao-13 Launches Successfully, CAS Space Cumulative 100 Satellites in Orbit — East Money
- Li Jian-1 Yao-13 "One Rocket Five Satellites" Launch Complete Success — East Money
- Record Broken! Li Jian-1 Yao-13 First to Reach 100-Satellite Milestone — Sohu
- One Rocket Five Satellites: China Launches Taijing-3 05A Series — China News Service