China launches commercial Gravity-1 rocket from sea

A Gravity-1 (YL-1) commercial carrier rocket carrying three satellites is launched from waters off the coast of Haiyang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 11, 2024. (Photo by Wang Keqi/Xinhua)

HAIYANG, Shandong, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday sent a sea-launched Gravity-1 (YL-1) carrier rocket into space, sending three satellites into the planned orbit.

The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center launched the commercial rocket from waters off the coast of Haiyang, east China's Shandong Province, at 1:30 p.m. (Beijing Time).

It was the first flight mission of the YL-1 commercial carrier rocket.

A Gravity-1 (YL-1) commercial carrier rocket carrying three satellites is launched from waters off the coast of Haiyang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 11, 2024. (Photo by Wang Keqi/Xinhua)

A Gravity-1 (YL-1) commercial carrier rocket carrying three satellites is launched from waters off the coast of Haiyang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 11, 2024. (Photo by Wang Keqi/Xinhua)

A Gravity-1 (YL-1) commercial carrier rocket carrying three satellites is launched from waters off the coast of Haiyang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

People gather in front of a screen to watch the launch of a Gravity-1 (YL-1) commercial carrier rocket carrying three satellites, on the Lianli Island of Haiyang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

A Gravity-1 (YL-1) commercial carrier rocket carrying three satellites is launched from waters off the coast of Haiyang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

A Gravity-1 (YL-1) commercial carrier rocket carrying three satellites is launched from waters off the coast of Haiyang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

A Gravity-1 (YL-1) commercial carrier rocket carrying three satellites is launched from waters off the coast of Haiyang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

A Gravity-1 (YL-1) commercial carrier rocket carrying three satellites is launched from waters off the coast of Haiyang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)