China launches second secretive excessive orbit web satellite tv for pc

PRESTON, United Kingdom — China launched the second of a brand new sequence of geostationary communications satellites Thursday, although its functions stay unclear.

A Lengthy March 3B rocket lifted off at 9:14 a.m. Jap Aug. 1 (1314 UTC) from Xichang Satellite tv for pc Launch Middle, southwest China. The China Aerospace Science and Know-how Company (CASC) declared the launch was an entire success.

CASC’s assertion revealed the sooner undisclosed payload for the launch to be Excessive orbit web satellite-02 (Weixing Hulianwan Gaogui-02). It follows the primary such satellite tv for pc, which was launched Feb. 29.

CASC and Chinese language media stories, as with the sooner launch, offered few particulars relating to the satellite tv for pc and its makes use of. The satellite tv for pc was developed by CASC’s China Academy of Area Know-how (CAST). No photographs of the satellite tv for pc, nor a sign of the satellite tv for pc platform and its potential makes use of or prospects, had been offered. 

China already operates a sequence of ChinaSat (Zhongxing) geostationary communications satellites. ChinaSat-26, China’s first satellite tv for pc offering greater than 100 gigabits per second (Gbps), was launched in early 2023. Varied ChinaSat satellites present companies for civilian and army customers.

State media Xinhua reported in November 2023 {that a} first excessive orbit web satellite tv for pc had been accomplished. It will be used to offer protection for the whole thing of China and key areas alongside the “Belt and Highway” initiative.

“Sooner or later, China Satcom will promote the development of satellites with bigger, single-satellite capability. It’s anticipated that by the tip of the “14th 5-12 months Plan”, the entire capability of high-throughput communication satellites will exceed 500 Gbps,” Xinhua reported, referring to the interval 2021-2025. It’s unclear if this report correlates with the brand new satellite tv for pc sequence. 

China in the meantime plans to launch a variety of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite tv for pc Web constellations. These embrace the state-led Guowang and the Shanghai-backed G60 Starlink constellations. The brand new satellites might probably be associated to certainly one of these initiatives. 

China has launched a variety of satellite tv for pc Web check spacecraft into LEO lately. The primary batches of satellites for the G60 constellation are anticipated to launch in August. 

In Might China additionally launched a first pair of communications satellites into medium Earth orbit. These had been additionally developed by a CASC subsidiary. 

Thursday’s launch was China’s thirty fourth of 2024. CASC acknowledged in February that it aimed to launch round 70 occasions this yr. It added that industrial launch suppliers focused roughly one other 30 launches.

Missions embrace the efficiently accomplished Chang’e-6 lunar far facet pattern return mission, crew and cargo missions to the Tiangong house station, a Sino-French house science satellite tv for pc, LEO communications launches and extra. 

The primary launch from a brand new industrial spaceport close to Wenchang is anticipated within the second half of the yr. That launch might be the brand new Lengthy March 12 rocket. There may also be sea launches supported by amenities off Shandong province.

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