China successfully launched third batch of Guowang megaconstellation satellites. This marked another step forward in its ambition to establish a low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband satellite network to rival Starlink and other global satellite internet systems.
The satellites were launched aboard a Long March-5B carrier rocket with a Yuanzheng-2 (Expedition-2) upper stage from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, located on Hainan Island in southern China. The satellites successfully entered their predetermined orbit.
Key Highlights
- Launch Vehicle: Long March-5B with Yuanzheng-2 upper stage.
- Launch Site: Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, Hainan Island, China.
- Mission: Deployment of the third batch of Guowang megaconstellation satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO).
- Objective: Strengthen China’s satellite internet system to compete with global networks (like SpaceX’s Starlink).
About Guowang Megaconstellation:
- “Guowang” translates to “national network.”
- Planned as a LEO broadband satellite megaconstellation.
- Targeted Number of Satellites: Approximately 13,000 satellites.
- Goal: Provide global satellite internet coverage from low Earth orbit.
- Seen as China’s direct response to Starlink and other LEO satellite constellations.
Constellation Details:
- Operational Altitudes: 500 km to 1,145 km above Earth.
- Inclinations: Between 30° to 85°.
- Frequency Bands: Utilizes a range of frequencies for comprehensive global coverage.
- Purpose: Provide low-latency, high-speed satellite internet globally.
Implications and Challenges:
- Positions China as a major player in the global satellite internet market.
- Raises issues related to international competition for satellite communication customers.
- Contributes to concerns over space debris management and LEO traffic coordination.
- May influence commercial space development within China.
Criticism and Transparency Concerns:
- Despite being presented as a civilian communication project, limited details about Guowang have been publicly disclosed.
- The project’s lack of transparency—even compared to other Chinese megaconstellations like Qianfan/Thousand Sails—has raised questions internationally.
Background of Launches
First Batch:
- Launched with Long March-5B + YZ-2 upper stage.
- Likely deployed 10 satellites.
Second Batch (February 2025):
- Used Long March 8A launcher.
- Likely deployed 9 satellites.
Third Batch (April 2025):
- Launched another 10 satellites.
Total Satellites in Orbit So Far: Estimated 29 satellites, with 19 tracked by the U.S. Space Force from the first two launches.
Satellite Manufacturing Entities
Satellites manufactured by:
- China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).
- Innovation Academy for Microsatellites (IAMCAS)—delivered its first 30 satellites for the project.
Other potential contributors:
- GalaxySpace.
- China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).
Project Oversight:
- Managed by China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd. (China Satnet), a state-owned entity established in April 2021.
- According to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) regulations, China Satnet must launch half of the 13,000 planned satellites by 2032, requiring an increase in launch frequency.