On November 30, a Long March-12 carrier rocket successfully sent two experimental satellites into their planned orbits from Hainan Commercial Spacecraft Launch Site, China's first commercial spacecraft launch site, in Wenchang, a coastal city in southern Hainan province.

The mission marked both the maiden flight of the Long March-12 carrier rocket and the first launch mission of the commercial spacecraft launch site.

There were several breakthroughs in technological innovation. The No.2 launch pad used for the mission is capable of horizontal assembly, testing and transportation. This improves the efficiency of the equipment and facilities, and reduces costs, making it suitable for high-density launch missions.

The launch site was built by Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd. (HICAL) and is also operated by the company.

Liu Hongjian, general manager of HICAL, said the launch marked the first domestic verification of the rocket hold-down and release technology.

"The success of the maiden launch means that Hainan is not just adding a new launch site for China, but is also exploring a unique new path for the development of the aerospace industry beyond the existing industrial models in China," HICAL chairman Yang Tianliang said.