China initiates Starlink rival project, places 18 satellites in orbit
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China has launched the first batch of satellites, kickstarting its space project Thousand Sails Constellation, which seeks to rival the US' Starlink.
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Scenes from China's launch of the first 18 satellites of its constellation plan, August 6, 2024 (X/WuLei2020)
China's state-owned Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) successfully placed 18 satellites into orbit, CCTV reported, as China seeks to rival the United States SpaceX's Starlink.
According to CCTV, the launch took place at Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in the northern Shanxi province, after the satellites boarded a Long March 6 rocket. The launch marks the first of many "Thousand Sails Constellation" projects.
China has launched 18 satellites of #G60constellation!
— Wu Lei (@wulei2020) August 6, 2024
For the first time in China’s space history, thanks to the G60 constellation project, mass production of flat-panel satellites and multi-satellite launch in a single mission have been achieved. pic.twitter.com/a75rZt6HPe
The state-sponsored initiative is China's response to Starlink, SpaceX's expanding commercial broadband constellation, which has around 5,500 LEO satellites providing near-global internet coverage to consumers, businesses, and government agencies.
Since 2022, following the Ukraine war's revelation of Starlink's critical role in battlefield communications, PLA-affiliated media (People's Liberation Army) released multiple editorials highlighting the threat Starlink poses to China's interests.
These editorials characterized Starlink and SpaceX as contributors to the "space hegemony" the United States is attempting to establish, granting it a "unilateral space military advantage."
China plans to launch 12,992 satellites into orbit
Shortly after, in April 2023, amid calls from the Chinese military community to accelerate the creation of a national network, China announced that it would launch 12,992 satellites into orbit.
The Washington Post cited a Beijing academic familiar with the Chinese project as saying, "The Starlink constellation has finally shown its military colors in the Russia-Ukraine conflict."
Despite SpaceX having said, in February, that the technology was not supposed to be weaponized, the Ukrainian military admitted that it was using the previously dubbed civilian satellite program to live-stream drone feeds, improving artillery accuracy.
Most recently, in December 2022, China's fears were further triggered after SpaceX revealed the anticipated launch of a new project called Starshield, which Chinese researchers discovered would be as good as having installed a surveillance camera network around the globe.
According to The Washington Post, China has accelerated the Guowang project, the State Network, and explored defensive measures against "Starlink-type foreign satellites."
