Latest news with #GuoWang
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
China rocket shortage means it may have to pick a favoured Starlink challenger
As China scrambles to build massive internet networks in space to rival Starlink, a growing divide is quietly emerging on the ground between national priorities and local ambition. The country appears to be fast-tracking the roll-out of Guo Wang, a state-run 13,000-satellite constellation slated for completion within a decade, tightening control over launch resources and leaving other projects in limbo. Often known as Beijing's answer to SpaceX's Starlink, Guo Wang has launched three batches of satellites in the past week alone – a sharp jump from its earlier pace of about one batch every two months. The launches, which bring the total number of Guo Wang satellites in orbit to 57, used three different Long March rockets, signalling a national push to ensure the project received all the launch capacity it needed to stay on track. Meanwhile, Qianfan, a 15,000-satellite constellation backed by the Shanghai municipal government, has not launched since March, despite already placing 90 satellites in orbit. With state-owned rockets seemingly out of reach, Qianfan is now turning to private rocket companies for help. In late July, Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology – the company behind Qianfan – issued its second launch tender of the year, seeking seven rocket launches to deploy 94 satellites. The contract, worth 1.4 billion yuan (US$186 million), requires all satellites to be delivered into orbit by March next year. One option calls for launching 10 satellites at a time, using a rocket that has already flown and could deliver at least 2.8 tonnes to a 950km (590 miles) near-polar orbit. The leading contender is Beijing-based LandSpace, whose upgraded Zhuque-2E can carry up to 4 tonnes – although to a lower 500km orbit. The second option involves launching 18 satellites at once, requiring a rocket that could deliver at least 4.8 tonnes to an 800km orbit and a firm commitment to complete its first flight by the end of this year. So far, only a few Long March rockets meet that threshold, including the 6A, 8, 8A and 12 that have supported past Guo Wang and Qianfan launches. Among private rockets still in development, LandSpace's reusable, heavy-lift Zhuque-3 appears to be the most promising, with a maiden flight targeted for this autumn. Yuanxin's first tender, issued in February, aimed to deploy 162 satellites across nine launches. But with fewer than three bids submitted, the process was cancelled, according to a statement on the tender result issued later that month. Space observers said the launch mission divide between Guo Wang and Qianfan highlighted a key factor behind China's launch bottleneck: the lack of reusable rockets. Unlike SpaceX's Falcon 9 – which has launched satellites up to two or three times a week – China still relies on expendable launchers that have lower capacity and slower turnaround. Without a comparable reusable system, the country's squeeze on rocket access was expected to persist, leaving ambitious satellite projects fighting for limited launch slots for years to come, the experts warned. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China rocket shortage means it may have to pick a favoured candidate to take on Starlink
As China scrambles to build massive internet networks in space to rival Starlink, a growing divide is quietly emerging on the ground between national priorities and local ambition. The country appears to be fast-tracking the roll-out of Guo Wang, a state-run 13,000-satellite constellation slated for completion within a decade, tightening control over launch resources and leaving other projects in limbo. Often known as Beijing's answer to SpaceX's Starlink, Guo Wang has launched three batches of satellites in the past week alone – a sharp jump from its earlier pace of about one batch every two months. 01:25 China's Tianzhou-9 cargo craft launches for Tiangong space station resupply mission China's Tianzhou-9 cargo craft launches for Tiangong space station resupply mission The launches, which bring the total number of Guo Wang satellites in orbit to 57, used three different Long March rockets, signalling a national push to ensure the project received all the launch capacity it needed to stay on track. Meanwhile, Qianfan , a 15,000-satellite constellation backed by the Shanghai municipal government, has not launched since March, despite already placing 90 satellites in orbit. With state-owned rockets seemingly out of reach, Qianfan is now turning to private rocket companies for help. In late July, Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology – the company behind Qianfan – issued its second launch tender of the year, seeking seven rocket launches to deploy 94 satellites. The contract, worth 1.4 billion yuan (US$186 million), requires all satellites to be delivered into orbit by March next year.
