China launches international Earth-Moon satellite constellation program

China has launched the Cislunar CubeSat Constellation (C3) science program, an international initiative to deploy a network of satellites in the space between Earth and the Moon. Announced at the 2026 International Deep Space Exploration Conference in Hefei, the project aims to transition space observation from isolated, intermittent data points to a continuous, networked monitoring system.

The constellation will consist of 30 CubeSats, each weighing no more than 30 kilograms. These satellites will be deployed in various orbits, including Earth-Moon resonant highly elliptical orbits and lunar orbits, with full deployment expected by 2030. Key mission objectives include monitoring the space environment, detecting gamma-ray bursts with sub-arcsecond precision, and exploring lunar resources.

Led by the China Deep Space Exploration Laboratory and the International Deep Space Exploration Association, the program is supported by the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization. The initiative is open to global scientists and institutions, specifically offering participation opportunities to developing nations. China plans to provide three standardized payloads—including high-energy particle imaging and space magnetometers—free of charge to participating partners to facilitate technical integration and training.