Phys.org July 17, 2023
On Sunday, July 9, launched a prototype internet satellite from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia. The satellite will conduct several tests to validate the broadband satellite technology. The long-term aim of the project is to create a constellation of 13,000 satellites code-named “Guo Wang”. They intend to create two constellations (GW-A59 and GW-2) with a coverage of 37.5 to 42.5 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 47.2 to 51.4 GHz (Earth-to-space). According to multiple sources, this constellation is part of a wider effort by China to stake its claim to the growing satellite internet market. The Chinese government opened the satellite internet market to private investment in 2014, and roughly two dozen projects have been started since then. There’s also China’s secret space plane, a competitor to the U.S. Space Force’s X-37B, which returned to Earth a few months ago after spending 276 days in orbit. Beyond satellite internet services, they are also working on reusable rockets and have dropped hints about reusable rockets like the Starship and Super Heavy. The process appears to be state-driven, with private industry fulfilling mandates and objectives set by the government… read more.