“China Women” Rocket Launch Marks a New Era for Female Empowerment in Space
At 3:33 p.m. on August 19, 2025, the CAS Space “Lijian-1 Y10” carrier rocket, with a nickname: “China Women”, blasted off from the Dongfeng Aerospace Innovation Base in Inner Mongolia, successfully delivering seven satellites into their designated orbit in a single launch. The mission, jointly initiated by CAS Space and China Women’s Magazine under the All-China Women’s Federation, celebrates a technological achievement and a symbolic milestone for Chinese women in science and space exploration.
On site to witness the liftoff were representatives of the All-China Women’s Federation, “March 8 Red Banner Holders,” and female engineers who contributed to the mission. As the countdown ended and the rocket pierced through the clouds, applause erupted across the control room.
A veteran female aerospace engineer said with emotion, “When the China Women rocket lifted off, it felt like my heart was soaring with it.” Leaders from the Women’s Federation added that the launch sends an inspiring message. This encourages more women to pursue their dreams in traditionally male-dominated fields.
According to Science and Technology Daily, the rocket carried seven satellites, including Zhongke Satellite 05, Tianyan-26, and two ThumbSat microsatellites from Mexico. Zhongke Satellite 05 features an X-band synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) with high resolution and wide coverage for all-weather observation. Tianyan-26 will conduct visible-light and infrared remote sensing, while ThumbSat-1 and -2 represent a cross-border collaboration project for low-orbit communication and data transmission tests. This demonstrates China’s increasing capacity for multi-satellite commercial launches.
The launch marked the eighth mission of the Lijian-1 series rocket, which has now placed around 70 satellites into orbit, delivering a total payload of over 7 tons. Future iterations are expected to carry more than 50 satellites in a single mission.
Beyond its technological impact, the launch embodied profound symbolism. The rocket’s body was decorated with the logo of China Women’s Magazine and the slogan “Self-respect, Self-confidence, Self-reliance, and Self-improvement.” Timed ahead of the upcoming Global Women’s Summit, this event sends a powerful message about gender equality and women’s participation in science and technology. It represents the spirit of Chinese women rising to new heights. Women are reaching the stars!
Letter to the Editor:
When I first read about the “China Women” rocket launch, I was struck by how little attention it received. Scrolling through Chinese news sites, I found only a handful of short reports that are buried beneath routine stories about technology and economy.
To me, it felt like a story that should have resonated everywhere as an intersection of gender and science. Yet it passed almost unnoticed. I couldn’t help but think about how easily women’s achievements, even when literally launched into orbit, are silenced by the noise of politics and profit. This should be a cause more widely known, which is why I pitched to The Peripheral.
Pitched by: Lily Lu
Written by: Penny Wei
