China has just launched the test of three communications satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Wow, get ready for a competitor, SpaceX.
It is known that Elon Musk's SpaceX is a satellite player who is building a 'dynasty' broadband constellation through the existence of Starlink.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) launched the Long Marc 2C rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert on May 20 yesterday.
As quoted from Space, Wednesday (25/5/2022) this test satellite is to carry out tests and verification of communication technology while in orbit. The satellite is Yuanzheng-1S.
Then the satellite developed by Changguang Satellite Technology, a remote sensing satellite developer and operator separated from the state-owned Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
The spacecraft carries an inter-satellite laser communications payload designed by the CAS agency and allows the satellites to transmit information to each other and reduces the need for an Earth station.
Then, another satellite was made by Aerospace Dongfanghong Satellite Co, which is owned by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), the main spacecraft manufacturing agency under CASC.
The test is to fulfill China's ambition to build a constellation of 13,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit, while also becoming a major challenger to SpaceX and other companies, such as OneWeb.
China said the companies involved in the May 20 launch could take the opportunity to secure contracts to build constellations, such as Galaxy Space, which launched six test satellites in March.