China aiming for the stars: New satellite network inbound
6 Min Read
China is gaining interstellar prominence, and it aims to soon rival Elon Musk's Starlink and the US space sector with its tech prowess.
-
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket streaks across the sky, as seen from Pasadena, after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, carrying 53 Starlink satellites into orbit, October 27, 2022 (AP)
China is taking its competitiveness and pursuit of alternatives to the West's tools to space, recently ramping up efforts to develop a satellite-powered internet network capable of giving Elon Musk's Starlink a run for its money after the latter showed itself to be a prominent, necessary network and quickly expanding around the globe, especially in light of the Ukraine war and its provision to the Kiev government to bolster its defenses.
A fresh Wall Street Journal report touched on how China has been attempting to gain prominence in the space sector, underlining that limited launch capacity and technological barriers have stood in its way thus far. However, it stressed that Beijing became aware of the necessity of satellite constellations that are close to orbit after the network's provision to Ukraine exponentially enhanced its internet connection despite its infrastructure being damaged due to the war.
Read next: SpaceX: Ukraine breaching agreement, weaponizing Starlink
Musk first announced sending the satellite system in March 2022, less than a month after the beginning of the war, and since then, Ukraine has received more than 20,000 satellite internet terminals. The Ukrainian army has immensely benefited from the terminals by connecting its drones to attack Russian forces.
Some 1300 SpaceX satellite units of the military went offline in November, raising concerns within Ukrainian forces as outages were reported near the frontlines, where it was believed then that Russia was able to shut them down using an unspecified electronic weapon.
SpaceX's founder Elon Musk said later in the month he could no longer provide the services due to a shortage of funds and asked the Pentagon to cover the costs.
SpaceX highlighted its financial issues and urged the government to begin funding Starlink services for Ukraine in a letter sent to the Pentagon, stating would cost more than $400 million over 2023.
Need satellites in orbit ASAP
Reportedly, work is underway in China to build new launch sites, with the country's satellite industry expanding with the entrance of new national and private companies into the vital sector. Meanwhile, it seems that Chinese experts are in a rush for the country to have its own satellites up and running in light of concerns that key orbits might become overcrowded as other states follow in Musk's footsteps.
China is in such a rush that, according to the report, one firm is aiming for launching 60 satellites per launch. Beijing Tianbing Technology's aspirations are not far-fetched as that is roughly the same payload as Elon Musk's Falcon 9 rockets, which use reusable fuel. Interestingly enough, Tianbang last month took a significant step toward building its own reusable space shuttles, sending a liquid-fuel rocket into orbit for the first time.
Previous reports have said that in the future, SpaceX plans to launch a Starship into orbit, refuel it with another Starship, and then send it on its way to Mars or beyond.
Experts suggest that China could double its payload within a couple of years.
Moreover, China's concerns about overcrowded orbits are not out of thin air, as the United States is also in pursuit of having its own constellations up in orbit, with the Space Force working on a fleet to support the US military aims. Additionally, a key ally of Washington's, the European Union, has also been in pursuit of a low-Earth orbit network. Taiwan has also been doing the same, as well.
A booming market
Aside from entire governments, private companies also have plans to set up their own constellations, such as online retail giant Amazon.
China has been aiming for the stars for years now, namely since April 2020 when its top economic-planning agency listed it among the country's desired new infrastructure projects as part of the push for Beijing to become self-sufficient in key tech.
Beijing submitted in late 2020 a filing to the United Nation's International Telecommunication Union for two constellations that include 7,808 at the least.
SpaceX was launching satellites habitually for four years before it managed to land 4,000 in orbit, with more than 30 launches last year alone and 17 thus far this year.
Meanwhile, China launched in 2022 182 satellites, showing an uptick in the country's satellite-launching capabilities.
China's space industry became the behemoth it has been after it was opened up to the private sector in 2014, and while state-owned enterprise still has the lion's share, the sector is far from being monopolized, with two dozen commercial companies partaking in it.
Due to its prowess, China in 2019 became the first country to land a rover on the far side of the moon, with aims to return samples from Mars in 2030. It also has more than 700 operational satellites in orbit.
While satellite internet has been around for years, satellite constellations highly develop it, as they offer high-speed links to remote areas, vessels at sea, and other locations that cannot benefit from fiber optics.
Experts are concerned about China's space ambitions, projecting that they would rival the United States and its lead in the global satellite market after the government and the Pentagon-backed SpaceX and rendered it a leading firm in the sector internationally, with it gaining permission to sell internet connections in numerous countries, up to 50, to be exact.
Meanwhile, various countries rely on China for digital infrastructure, and they will be more than inclined to integrate Chinese satellite internet into their networks.
