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.