China To Launch Seven Satellites In 1998 Beijing, China, 24 March 1998 (TS-ASIA) -- China is planning to launch seven satellites during 1998, according to reports. They quote the Guangming Daily newspaper as saying the seven include four Iridium satellites, Chinasat-8, European-built Sinosat-1 and a locally developed craft. The country's Long March rocket will launch all the craft.