HELSINKI – China has led a new launch for a nebula series of internet technology test satellites on Tuesday.
A long rocket of March 2 has taken off at 12:00 am (0400 UTC) on April 1 of the Jiuquan satellite launch center in the Gobi desert. The insulation tiles have moved away from the fairing of the payload while the rocket rose in a light blue sky, powered by a hypergolic exhaust plume.
The Shanghai Academy of SpaceFlight Technology (SAST), a manufacturer of rockets belonging to the State, announcement The success of the launch, revealing that the payload is a satellite of internet technology test by satellite satellite (Wexing Hulianwang Jishu Shiyan Weixing).
According to SAST, satellite will be used mainly for technical tests and verification for the integration of direct satellite high speed on cells and integration of the space network. He did not provide more details or images of the satellite.
The radio management office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technologies (MIIT) reported that the launch bore four internet satellite test satellites, designated 0001-0004, carrying KA and other useful frequency band charges.
Manufacturers and operators of commercial satellite Changguang Satellite Technology and Galaxy Space later confirmed they each provided a pair of satellites for the launch. No details of the satellites were provided beyond the reiteration of a brief description of their uses.
Satellite internet test program
This is the sixth launch of the “satellite satellite satellite satellite satellite” of China, after a launch first mission In July 2023, using a long March 2 and a higher stage YZ-1, and a previous mission using the new long rocket of March 12 in November 2024. Missions used a range of launch vehicles and transported 1-3 satellites each. The authorities have only published short descriptions and no image of satellites. The development of a number of them has been awarded to China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a large manufacturer of state -owned spaceships.
China is already in advance with two megaconstellations of low orbit, Guowang And Qiaanfan / thousand sailsHowever, the satellite missions of satellite internet technology test continue. These could be unrelated, or be ramps for new generations of satellites for these projects, and test systems such as propulsion, power, thermal control and phase network antennas.
In addition, China spear Three distinct “high orbit” internet satellites in three launches in 2024, satellites operating in geostationary orbit. As with the satellites of the low terrestrial orbit, little is known about the spaceship. The absence of information accessible to the public increases speculation about its potential uses, which observers speculate could include military or double use applications.
The missions are added to the overall spatial spatial spatial infrastructure of China, because it seeks to ensure sovereign access to space internet services without counting on foreign infrastructure. Chinese government added “Internet satellite” to a list of priority “new infrastructure” in 2020.
His communication projects include Guowang and Thousand Sails / Qianfan, Average terrestrial orbit satellitesand the Chinasat and Apstar satellites in Geo. China also provides a spatial infrastructure system that would integrate communications into navigation and positioning and remote sensing.
2025 Launch progress
Tuesday’s mission was the 17th orbital launch of China of 2025, after the launch of the classified Satellite TJS-16 In orbit geosynchronous in orbit on March 29 via a long arugula on March 7.
China could target 100 launches or more in 2025, driven by Growing commercial activitymegaconstellation projects and development of the new launcher. A number of new, medium and potentially reusable rockets are targeting This year.
The highlighted missions will include the Shenzhou-20 missions and 21 human space flight missions in Tiangong. THE Tianwen-2 The mission to return to asteroid samples near the earth should be launched from Xichang on a long rocket from March 3 to May.
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Article published at 9 h 27 eastern to add information on the manufacturers of the Satellite oven.
