A Chinese state-owned enterprise launched the first group of satellites for a megaconstellation intended to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink network, according to a state-backed newspaper on Monday.
This launch is a pivotal move in Beijing’s strategy to create its own version of Starlink, a commercial broadband constellation that has around 5,500 satellites in orbit, providing services to consumers, businesses, and government agencies.
The race to control Earth’s lower orbits has significant military implications, potentially shifting the balance of power between nations in conflict.
Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) led the launch at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi province, as reported by the China Securities Journal. This effort is part of SSST’s “Thousand Sails Constellation” initiative, also known as the “G60 Starlink Plan,” which seeks to deploy over 15,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
LEO satellites, operating at altitudes of 300km to 2,000km above Earth, are more cost-effective and offer better transmission efficiency than higher orbit satellites.
Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, currently serves tens of thousands of users in the United States and plans to significantly expand its satellite network.
Chinese researchers from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have recently studied Starlink’s deployment in the Ukraine conflict, expressing concerns about the risks it poses to China in a potential military conflict with the United States. In January, a PLA publication described Starlink’s deployment as a “serious threat to the security of space assets of various countries.”
SSST’s “Thousand Sails Constellation” is one of three “ten-thousand star constellation” projects China is developing to close the gap with SpaceX. SSST plans to launch 108 satellites this year, 648 by the end of 2025, achieve “global network coverage” by 2027, and deploy 15,000 satellites by 2030.
