BEIJING: China on Monday successfully launched the Lijian-1 Y5 commercial carrier rocket, carrying 15 satellites, from a commercial aerospace innovation pilot zone in northwest China. The rocket took off at 12:03 p.m. (Beijing Time) and successfully deployed satellites from the Jilin-1 Gaofen series, Yunyao-1 series, Xiguang-1 series, as well as a remote-sensing satellite for Oman, into their designated orbits. According to Namibia Press Agency, the Lijian-1 rocket series was developed by CAS Space, a commercial spaceflight company formed by the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Since its maiden flight on July 7, 2022, the Lijian-1 series has successfully launched a total of 57 satellites in five flight missions. The rocket measures 30 meters in length, has a takeoff weight of 135 tonnes, and a takeoff thrust of 200 tonnes, capable of sending a payload of 1.5 tonnes to a 500-km sun-synchronous orbit or 2 tonnes to low Earth orbit. The Lijian-1 Y5 rocket features a payload fairin g with a diameter of 3.35 meters, allowing it to accommodate larger satellites. This configuration can be adjusted for future missions based on payload capacity and satellite space requirements. Among the satellites onboard, the Yunyao-1 series consists of six satellites focused on atmospheric detection and environmental monitoring. Notably, the mission included a remote-sensing satellite for Oman that harnesses artificial intelligence to calculate its load. The satellite's intelligent operating system is capable of in-orbit processing and analysis, applicable to land surveys, urban planning, forest surveys, and disaster monitoring. This launch marks the first instance of a Chinese commercial space enterprise providing launch services to international users, signifying the Lijian-1 rocket's entry into the international commercial space market. Shi Xiaoning, the rocket's chief designer, emphasized that the international market has recognized the cost efficiency and reliability of the rocket.