China launches first cultural communication satellite Youxi

China's first space-ground interactive satellite for cultural communication, known as"Youxi," was launched at 12:33 p.m. on Friday. It was one of five satellites sent into orbit by a CAS Space Lijian-1 Y13 carrier rocket, which lifted off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwestern China.

A CAS Space Lijian-1 Y13 carrier rocket carrying the Youxi satellite lifts off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone, May 15, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

The Youxi satellite project was spearheaded by the Center for International Cultural Communication of China International Communications Group (CICG), and jointly promoted by the news and publicity center of the China National Space Administration and other partners. The satellite was jointly developed by Shanghai Jicao Cultural Creativity Co. Ltd. and Shanghai Orbital Voyager Space Technology Co. Ltd., with technical support from China Aerospace Science and Technology Commercial Launch Vehicle Group Co. Ltd., Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and other organizations.

Equipped with two 4K high-definition display screens and five multi-angle onboard cameras, the Youxi satellite will continuously play visual content from Earth in space and transmit footage captured from a space-based perspective, allowing images of human civilization and Earth's curvature to appear in the same frame.

While watching the space livestream, users around the world will be able to interact through social media platforms. Selected user comments and content may be uploaded to the satellite's screens for display.

As part of a space-ground interactive cultural communication platform, the Youxi satellite is designed to use the displays on the satellite and livestreaming to share Chinese cultural content with global audiences and enable two-way interaction from the Earth. 

The payload of the Youxi satellite is on display on May 15, 2026, prior to launch. [Photo/CICG]

A CAS Space Lijian-1 Y13 carrier rocket named"China Youxi" for this mission stands on the launch pad before liftoff at the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone, May 15, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

The launch marked the 13th flight of the Lijian-1 carrier rocket, which sent five satellites into orbit in a single mission.