Chinese-launched rocket lights up Australian skies

Chinese-launched rocket lights up Australian skies as it's bound for orbit Wed 10 Jun 2026 at 7:10am A Chinese rocket has lit up the skies across Queensland and northern New South Wales overnight, as it passed over north-eastern Australia. University of Southern Queensland astrophysicist Professor Jonti Horner said the Zhuque 2E Block 2 rocket was launched about 6.20pm from a Chinese satellite launch centre and was visible over Queensland about 20 minutes later last night. He says it was a commercial launch from China carrying about six tonnes of payload. Professor Horner says the rocket's height meant it was lit by the sun, even though night had fallen on the ground. "It got up to orbital altitude, and it released some gas," he said. "This cloud of gas was illuminated by the sun, even though it was dark at ground level; this was high enough to be in sunlight. "And so you've got this cloud of gas highlighted moving across the sky as this rocket launched passed overhead effectively."