On Tuesday, China sent up its first group of internet satellites, aiming to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink, according to reuters.
The satellite network, called “Thousand Sails,” will have over 15,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit to provide worldwide internet access.
China’s Space Goals – First Satellite Launch, Internet Plans & Future Missions
A Long March 6A rocket launched from the Taiyuan center in northern Shanxi province, successfully placing the first 18 satellites into space, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. They said the mission was a complete success.
By 2025, China plans to launch 648 satellites in the first stage of their constellation to build a global internet network, according to state media CCTV.
China’s constellation will be made up of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites designed to provide internet coverage. Two well-known competitors in this field are Starlink, created by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, and OneWeb, which is owned by the European company Eutelsat.
The launch of China’s internet constellation highlights its major space goals and Beijing’s attempt to challenge U.S. dominance in the field, as the tech competition between the two countries grows.
In 2020, China finished the BeiDou network, a satellite system designed to compete with the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), which is used globally.
In June this year, China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe returned to Earth, bringing back the first samples ever from the far side of the moon. Beijing has also announced plans to send its first crewed mission to Mars in 2033. China’s satellite launch starts its plan for global internet, showing its growing space ambitions and competition with Starlink.
Conclusion
China’s successful launch of its first satellites is just the beginning of its plan to provide a global internet and compete with rivals like Starlink. This shows China’s big ambitions in space, with projects like the BeiDou navigation system and future missions to Mars.
