China has successfully launched a new set of low Earth orbit satellites, continuing its ongoing space deployment efforts, according to state media.
China successfully launched a new group of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in north China's Shanxi Province early Friday morning. This launch contributes to the nation's ongoing development of a space-based internet constellation.
The satellites, which constitute the fourth group of their kind intended for this constellation, lifted off at 4:45 a.m. Beijing Time aboard a modified Long March-6 carrier rocket. The satellites successfully entered their preset orbit. This mission marks the 580th launch for the Long March series of carrier rockets, demonstrating the continued operational cadence of China's launch capabilities.
China is actively developing several large-scale satellite internet constellations in low Earth orbit. These projects aim to provide global broadband internet services and are often compared to initiatives like SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper. One key effort is Guowang (National Network), a state-backed project established in 2021 that aims to deploy nearly 13,000 satellites. Its goal is to establish a national broadband network from space, ensuring connectivity. Another significant project is Qianfan (Thousand Sails) / SpaceSail, backed by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, which plans to deploy over 15,000 satellites by 2030 to provide low-latency, high-speed, and ultra-reliable satellite broadband internet services, with initial phases focusing on regional coverage before expanding globally. The "G60 Starlink" is also associated with this initiative.
Beyond these, the Tianqi Constellation, developed by GuoDianGaoKe Technology, has already reached its first phase with 37 satellites in orbit, forming a global network for IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity, smart cities, and emergency communications. The project aims to expand into consumer markets, including smartphones and smart vehicles. Furthermore, Geely's Future Mobility Constellation, developed by commercial space subsidiary Geespace, is designed to revolutionise intelligent connectivity for road vehicles and consumer electronics. It has a three-phase plan, with a long-term goal of 5,676 satellites for global broadband services and direct smartphone connectivity. These various constellations highlight China's multi-pronged approach to establishing a comprehensive space-based communication infrastructure. The development of these networks is seen as strategically important for both commercial and potential military applications, and for securing orbital and frequency resources in an increasingly competitive space environment.
The modified Long March-6 is part of China's new generation of liquid-fueled carrier rockets. It is designed to be a small-to-medium-lift launch vehicle, capable of placing payloads into various orbits, including low Earth orbit and sun-synchronous orbit. The Long March-6 family, including variants like the Long March-6A and Long March-6C, utilises environmentally friendly propellants such as kerosene and liquid oxygen. These rockets are known for their efficiency and adaptability, making them suitable for the frequent deployment of satellites for constellations and other missions. The Long March-6 series has played a significant role in China's commercial launch services.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacu...
Two people were killed and around 40 injured when a tram derailed in central Milan on Friday (27 Februrary), a spokesperson for local firefighters sai...
Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), issued a statement on Friday (27 February) calling on Ankara to ...
Colombia’s commerce minister, Diana Marcela Morales, has said she will propose raising tariffs on certain Ecuadorian goods from 30% to 50%, as a tra...
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said on Friday (27 February) that he had no knowledge of the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and would not have...
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacuating diplomatic staff amid fears of further instability.
Speaking during a closed-door deposition in New York on Thursday (February), former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she did not “recall” ever meeting the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and had “no knowledge of his crimes”.
Pakistan’s declaration of an “open war” with Afghanistan must be understood in the context of months of escalating violence, regional analysts have said, describing the latest developments as a significant shift in the nature of the conflict.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue, offering Tehran’s assistance to facilitate understanding between its eastern neighbours.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacuating diplomatic staff amid fears of further instability.
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state has risen to 46, authorities said, with 21 people still reported missing. The storms triggered landslides and widespread flooding, displacing thousands across Juiz de Fora and Uba.
The situation in Cuba was heating up and called for restraint following a deadly incident involving a Florida-registered speedboat off the coast of the Caribbean island, the Kremlin said on Thursday (26 February).
Pakistani air strikes hit a weapons depot on the western outskirts of Kabul overnight, triggering hours of secondary explosions that rattled homes across the Afghan capital and left residents fearing further violence.
Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab and Ombudsman Alfredo Ruiz tendered their resignations to the National Assembly on Wednesday. Neither official has publicly provided reasons for stepping down.
South Korea will soon cease to be one of the few countries where Google Maps does not function fully, after its security-conscious government reversed a two-decade-old policy and approved the export of high-precision map data to overseas servers.
New research suggests 40,000-year-old carved objects from south-western Germany bear repeated marks arranged in organised sign sequences similar to early proto-cuneiform, although they are not regarded as a form of writing.
The chief executive of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, has called for more urgent research into the risks posed by artificial intelligence, warning that stronger safeguards are needed as systems become more advanced.
NASA successfully completed a critical fueling rehearsal on Thursday (19 February) for its giant moon rocket, Artemis II, after earlier hydrogen leaks disrupted preparations for the next crewed lunar mission. The launch is scheduled for 6 March, according to the latest information from NASA.
ByteDance will take steps to prevent the unauthorised use of intellectual property on its artificial intelligence (AI) video generator Seedance 2.0, the Chinese technology firm said on Monday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment