A rocket carrying a group of satellites belonging to the Tianqi constellation blasts off from the waters near east China's Shandong Province, on Jan. 16, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

China on Friday sent a sea-launched rocket from the waters near the eastern province of Shandong, placing a group of satellites into planned orbit.

The commercial rocket, CERES-1 Y7, blasted off at 4:10 a.m. (Beijing Time), carrying the satellites belonging to the Tianqi constellation. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center conducted this offshore mission.