On August 6, China’s Long March 6 rocket was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, successfully placing the Qianfan Polar Orbit 01 satellite group (18 satellites) into the designated level of orbit.
According to Reuters, China intends to build a massive internet constellation to compete with the Starlink satellite network operated by U.S.-based SpaceX. Starlink is an expanding commercial broadband satellite constellation with approximately 5,500 satellites in space, providing service to consumers, businesses, and government agencies.
The recent Chinese rocket launches are part of the “Qianfan Constellation (千帆星座)” plan, also known as the “G60 Starlink” plan, which aims to deploy over 15,000 low-orbit satellites. The “Qianfan Constellation” is one of three “Ten-Thousand-Star Constellation” projects that China hopes will help narrow its gap with SpaceX. The Qianfan Constellation plan aims to launch 108 satellites this year, 648 satellites by the end of 2025, to provide “global network coverage” by 2027, and to complete the deployment of 15,000 satellites by the end of 2030.
Source: Xinhua, August 7, 2024
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