Using its Long March 4B rocket China today successfully launched a remote sensing Earth resources satellite.

They also once again tested grid fins on the first stage, comparable to the ones on SpaceX’s Falcon 9, for controlling the landing zone of that first stage.

The leaders in the 2019 launch race:

21 China
17 Russia
10 SpaceX
6 Europe (Arianespace)
4 ULA
4 India

The U.S. now leads China 22 to 21 in the national rankings..

China yesterday used its Long March 4B rocket to launch three satellites into orbit.

This was the first Long March 4 launch since May, when the third stage of a Long March 4C rocket failed. The main payload was a remote sensing satellite with both civilian and military applications. The second satellite was to provide ocean data and weather, with the third a cubesat testing new space communications and the use of a drag sail for de-orbiting.

The leaders in the 2019 launch race:

15 China
14 Russia
10 SpaceX
6 Europe (Arianespace)

The U.S. continues to lead China 19 to 15 in the national rankings.

Using its Long March 4B rocket China today launched an ocean research satellite.

The leaders in the 2018 launch standings (also including Russia’s launch today):

29 China
17 SpaceX
9 Russia
8 ULA
7 Europe (Arianespace)

China’s lead over the U.S. in the national rankings has now widened to 29 to 26.

China today launched a remote sensing satellite with its Long March 4B rocket.

The satellite is designed to observe the Earth at high resolution, but little else is known about it.

The leaders in the 2018 launch standings:

22 China
14 SpaceX
8 Russia
5 ULA
4 Japan
4 Europe

China now as a 22 to 20 lead over the U.S. in 2018 launches.