China has launched the first batch of satellites for its "Thousand Sails" constellation aimed at rivaling SpaceX's Starlink network.
The state-owned Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) plans to deploy over 14,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites by 2030 to provide global network coverage for commercial broadband services.
The Qianfan satellites have a flat-panel design similar to Starlink, and SSST plans to launch potentially thousands of satellites, with an initial deployment of 1,296 satellites in the first phase, aiming to create a Chinese version of Starlink for commercial broadband.
China's satellite internet networks could have military and diplomatic uses, and their deployment will require increased launch capacity. China is studying Starlink's deployment in Ukraine, with concerns about potential advantages in a conflict with the US.
SSST raised $943 million for the construction of the Thousand Sails constellation, and China aims to conduct around 100 launches in 2024, with 30 of them by commercial providers, to support its mega constellation plans.
Other companies, such as Amazon, are also planning internet satellite mega constellations, raising concerns about potential collisions, interference with astronomical observations, and space debris resulting from the construction of large-scale constellations, highlighting the need for global cooperation.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Ars Technica, Tasnim News, ExtremeTech, The Standard, UPI, Global Times, SpaceNews, RTHK, Devdiscourse, Hindustan Times, Newsr.