Author Topic: Chinese Mega Constellations (Read 1730 times)

Tywin · « **on:** 06/06/2025 09:44 pm »

I think so is important to had at least a thread of the mega constellations of China:

Qianfan:

https://spacenews.com/long-march-8-launches-thousand-sails-satellites-from-commercial-spaceport/

https://spacenews.com/chinas-megaconstellations-take-off-government-backs-commercial-space/

Guowang:

https://spacenews.com/china-launches-fourth-group-of-guowang-megaconstellation-satellites/

ADASpace - Computing Network:

https://twitter.com/PhazzeeYeehaw/status/1922886361603785055

Will see...

TheKutKu · « **Reply #1 on:** 06/07/2025 02:45 am »

Chinese blogger Hello Space recently listed the notable constellation plans in china: https://www.bilibili.com/opus/1057469150698405888
Within that list there are 30 plans for constellations of more than 100 satellites, with a total of 60,000 satellites to be made and launched...

Of course not all projects are equal, for example the 4th largest in that list, HK-Based USpace's 6,000 satellite constellation, is highly dubious.

sandha · « **Reply #2 on:** 06/07/2025 05:30 am »

Since we're in the early stages of the Guowang construction (not so "mega" as yet), I thought It'd be easier now to start a list that keeps track of the number of sats actually launched into orbit (not accounting for their operational status).

It seems unclear if the similarly-named GEO satellites and experimental satellites are also part of the Guowang constellation and so I'll keep them in separate lists.

The lists use the following provisional format: Number, Launch Time (UTC), LV, Launch Site, Orbit Type, number of satellites. The sources for the launches include Wikipedia (plus the sources cited therein) and the relevant launch threads located here at nasaspaceflight.com. The two currently relevant Wiki pages are:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Long_March_launches_(2020%E2%80%932024)#2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Long_March_launches_(2025%E2%80%932029)#2025

I'll do a similar post for the Thousand Sails Constllation later.

Feel free to add to the lists or to delete any incorrect info.

Satellite Internet High Orbit Satellites (卫星互联网高轨卫星) {part of Guowang?]
1. 29 FEB 2024, 13:03 CZ-3B(Y95) XSLC GEO 1 sat
2. 01 AUG 2024, 13:14 CZ-3B(Y??) XSLC GEO 1 sat
3. 10 OCT 2024, 13:50 CZ-3B(Y??) XSLC GEO 1 sat
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 3 satellites

Weixing Hulianwang Jishu Shiyan 卫星互联网技术试验卫星 (experimental)
1. 30 NOV 2024, 14:25 CZ-12(Y1) HICAL LEO 1 sat
2. 01 APR 2025, 04:00 CZ-2D(Y78) JSLC LEO 4 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 5 satellites

Satellite Internet Low-Orbit Satellites 卫星互联网低轨卫星 (Guowang)
1. 16 DEC 2024, 10:00 CZ-5B+YZ-2(Y6+Y2) WSLC LEO 10 sats
2. 11 FEB 2025, 09:30 CZ-8A(Y1) WSLC LEO 09 sats
3. 28 APR 2025, 20:10 CZ-5B+YZ-2(Y7+Y3) WSLC LEO 10 sats
4. 05 JUN 2025, 20:45 CZ-6A(Y8) TSLC LEO 05 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 34 satellites

sandha · « **Reply #3 on:** 06/07/2025 06:27 am »

Quote from: sandha on 06/07/2025 05:30 am

I'll do a similar post for the Thousand Sails Constllation later.

Feel free to add to the lists or to delete any incorrect info.

Thousand Sails Constellation 千帆星座
1. 06 AUG 2024, 06:42 CZ-6A(Y??) TSLC Polar 18 sats
2. 15 OCT 2024, 11:06 CZ-6A(Y??) TSLC Polar 18 sats
3. 05 DEC 2024, 04:41 CZ-6A(Y22) TSLC Polar 18 sats
4. 23 JAN 2025, 05:15 CZ-6A(Y06) TSLC Polar 18 sats
5. 11 MAR 2025, 16:38 CZ-8(Y6) HICAL Polar 18 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 90 satellites

limen4 · « **Reply #4 on:** 06/07/2025 10:56 am »

Quote from: sandha on 06/07/2025 05:30 am

Weixing Hulianwang Jishu Shiyan 卫星互联网技术试验卫星 (experimental)
1. 09 JUL 2023, 11:00 CZ-2C/YZ-1S (Y52/Y3) JSLC LEO 2 sats
2. 23 NOV 2023, 10:00 CZ-2D/YZ-3 (Y59/Y2) XSLC LEO 3 sats
3. 05 DEC 2023, 19:24 SD-3 (Y2) South China Sea LEO 1 sat
4. 30 DEC 2023, 0:13 CZ-2C/YZ-1S (Y73/Y17) JSLC LEO 3 sats
1.5. 30 NOV 2024, 14:25 CZ-12(Y1) HICAL LEO 1 sat
2.6. 01 APR 2025, 04:00 CZ-2D(Y78) JSLC LEO 4 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 14 satellites

TheKutKu · « **Reply #5 on:** 06/07/2025 03:47 pm »

Quote from: sandha on 06/07/2025 06:27 am

Quote from: sandha on 06/07/2025 05:30 am
I'll do a similar post for the Thousand Sails Constllation later.

Feel free to add to the lists or to delete any incorrect info.

Thousand Sails Constellation 千帆星座
1. 06 AUG 2024, 06:42 CZ-6A(Y??) TSLC Polar 18 sats
2. 15 OCT 2024, 11:06 CZ-6A(Y??) TSLC Polar 18 sats
3. 05 DEC 2024, 04:41 CZ-6A(Y22) TSLC Polar 18 sats
4. 23 JAN 2025, 05:15 CZ-6A(Y06) TSLC Polar 18 sats
5. 11 MAR 2025, 16:38 CZ-8(Y6) HICAL Polar 18 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 90 satellites

KL-Beta are considered to be Qianfan tech demos (not prototypes, their design was different), they were built and operated independently by SECM/IAMCAS & Spacesail without the german/liechstensteiner KLEO side knowing.
There are some arguments on KL-Alpha too but it's more dubious as KLEO was more involved in this.

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1707162656424574020
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=54465.0
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/kl-alpha-a.htm
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/kl-beta-a.htm

04 AUG 2021, 11:01 CZ-6(Y7) TSLC Polar 2 sats

06 AUG 2024 CZ-6A was Y21 per patch
15 OCT 2024 CZ-6A was Y20 per patch

sandha · « **Reply #6 on:** 06/07/2025 07:30 pm »

Folks, thanks for the corrections and additions! Following are the corrected counts:

Quote from: limen4 on 06/07/2025 10:56 am

Quote from: sandha on 06/07/2025 05:30 am

Weixing Hulianwang Jishu Shiyan 卫星互联网技术试验卫星 (experimental)
1. 09 JUL 2023, 11:00 CZ-2C/YZ-1S (Y52/Y3) JSLC LEO 2 sats
2. 23 NOV 2023, 10:00 CZ-2D/YZ-3 (Y59/Y2) XSLC LEO 3 sats
3. 05 DEC 2023, 19:24 SD-3 (Y2) South China Sea LEO 1 sat
4. 30 DEC 2023, 0:13 CZ-2C/YZ-1S (Y73/Y17) JSLC LEO 3 sats
1.5. 30 NOV 2024, 14:25 CZ-12(Y1) HICAL LEO 1 sat
2.6. 01 APR 2025, 04:00 CZ-2D(Y78) JSLC LEO 4 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 14 satellites

Satellite Internet High Orbit Satellites (卫星互联网高轨卫星) {part of Guowang?]
1. 29 FEB 2024, 13:03 CZ-3B(Y95) XSLC GEO 1 sat
2. 01 AUG 2024, 13:14 CZ-3B(Y??) XSLC GEO 1 sat
3. 10 OCT 2024, 13:50 CZ-3B(Y??) XSLC GEO 1 sat
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 3 satellites

Weixing Hulianwang Jishu Shiyan 卫星互联网技术试验卫星 (experimental)
1. 09 JUL 2023, 11:00 CZ-2C/YZ-1S (Y52/Y3) JSLC LEO 2 sats
2. 23 NOV 2023, 10:00 CZ-2D/YZ-3 (Y59/Y2) XSLC LEO 3 sats
3. 05 DEC 2023, 19:24 SD-3 (Y2) SCS* LEO 1 sat
4. 30 DEC 2023, 0:13 CZ-2C/YZ-1S (Y73/Y17) JSLC LEO 3 sats
5. 30 NOV 2024, 14:25 CZ-12(Y1) HICAL LEO 1 sat
6. 01 APR 2025, 04:00 CZ-2D(Y78) JSLC LEO 4 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 14 satellites
(* SCS = South China Sea)

Satellite Internet Low-Orbit Satellites 卫星互联网低轨卫星 (Guowang)
1. 16 DEC 2024, 10:00 CZ-5B+YZ-2(Y6+Y2) WSLC LEO 10 sats
2. 11 FEB 2025, 09:30 CZ-8A(Y1) WSLC LEO 09 sats
3. 28 APR 2025, 20:10 CZ-5B+YZ-2(Y7+Y3) WSLC LEO 10 sats
4. 05 JUN 2025, 20:45 CZ-6A(Y8) TSLC LEO 05 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 34 satellites

Quote from: TheKutKu on 06/07/2025 03:47 pm

Quote from: sandha on 06/07/2025 06:27 am
Quote from: sandha on 06/07/2025 05:30 am
I'll do a similar post for the Thousand Sails Constllation later.

Feel free to add to the lists or to delete any incorrect info.

Thousand Sails Constellation 千帆星座
1. 06 AUG 2024, 06:42 CZ-6A(Y??) TSLC Polar 18 sats
2. 15 OCT 2024, 11:06 CZ-6A(Y??) TSLC Polar 18 sats
3. 05 DEC 2024, 04:41 CZ-6A(Y22) TSLC Polar 18 sats
4. 23 JAN 2025, 05:15 CZ-6A(Y06) TSLC Polar 18 sats
5. 11 MAR 2025, 16:38 CZ-8(Y6) HICAL Polar 18 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 90 satellites

KL-Beta are considered to be Qianfan tech demos (not prototypes, their design was different), they were built and operated independently by SECM/IAMCAS & Spacesail without the german/liechstensteiner KLEO side knowing.
There are some arguments on KL-Alpha too but it's more dubious as KLEO was more involved in this.

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1707162656424574020
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=54465.0
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/kl-alpha-a.htm
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/kl-beta-a.htm

04 AUG 2021, 11:01 CZ-6(Y7) TSLC Polar 2 sats

06 AUG 2024 CZ-6A was Y21 per patch
15 OCT 2024 CZ-6A was Y20 per patch

Thousand Sails Constellation 千帆星座
X. 04 AUG 2021, 11:01 CZ-6(Y7) TSLC Polar 2 sats (tech demo, not counted)

1. 06 AUG 2024, 06:42 CZ-6A(Y21) TSLC Polar 18 sats
2. 15 OCT 2024, 11:06 CZ-6A(Y20) TSLC Polar 18 sats
3. 05 DEC 2024, 04:41 CZ-6A(Y22) TSLC Polar 18 sats
4. 23 JAN 2025, 05:15 CZ-6A(Y06) TSLC Polar 18 sats
5. 11 MAR 2025, 16:38 CZ-8(Y6) HICAL Polar 18 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 90 satellites

luritie · « **Reply #7 on:** 06/09/2025 05:56 pm »

Quote from: limen4 on 06/07/2025 10:56 am

Quote from: sandha on 06/07/2025 05:30 am

Weixing Hulianwang Jishu Shiyan 卫星互联网技术试验卫星 (experimental)
1. 09 JUL 2023, 11:00 CZ-2C/YZ-1S (Y52/Y3) JSLC LEO 2 sats
2. 23 NOV 2023, 10:00 CZ-2D/YZ-3 (Y59/Y2) XSLC LEO 3 sats
3. 05 DEC 2023, 19:24 SD-3 (Y2) South China Sea LEO 1 sat
4. 30 DEC 2023, 0:13 CZ-2C/YZ-1S (Y73/Y17) JSLC LEO 3 sats
1.5. 30 NOV 2024, 14:25 CZ-12(Y1) HICAL LEO 1 sat
2.6. 01 APR 2025, 04:00 CZ-2D(Y78) JSLC LEO 4 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 14 satellites

And these two launches?
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=54523.40
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=56393.20

TheKutKu · « **Reply #8 on:** 06/10/2025 02:55 pm »

Quote from: sandha on 06/07/2025 07:30 pm

Folks, thanks for the corrections and additions! Following are the corrected counts:

Satellite Internet Low-Orbit Satellites 卫星互联网低轨卫星 (Guowang)
1. 16 DEC 2024, 10:00 CZ-5B+YZ-2(Y6+Y2) WSLC LEO 10 sats
2. 11 FEB 2025, 09:30 CZ-8A(Y1) WSLC LEO 09 sats
3. 28 APR 2025, 20:10 CZ-5B+YZ-2(Y7+Y3) WSLC LEO 10 sats
4. 05 JUN 2025, 20:45 CZ-6A(Y8) TSLC LEO 05 sats
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 34 satellites

In the case of Guowang, It may be worth noting the inclination and manufacturer of the satellites,especially since it will eventually likely involve many different shells and manufacturers, the distinction between GW-A59 (<500km) and GW-A2 (600-1145km) may eventually be useful too, although they're all A2 for now
Satellite Internet Low-Orbit Satellites 卫星互联网低轨卫星 (Guowang)
1. 16 DEC 2024, 10:00 CZ-5B+YZ-2(Y6+Y2) WSLC LEO 86.5° 10 sats CAST
2. 11 FEB 2025, 09:30 CZ-8A(Y1) WSLC LEO 50° 09 sats CAST
3. 28 APR 2025, 20:10 CZ-5B+YZ-2(Y7+Y3) WSLC LEO 86.5° 10 sats CAST
4. 05 JUN 2025, 20:45 CZ-6A(Y8) TSLC LEO 86.5° 05 sats SECM
Total number as of 6 June 2025: 34 satellites

GEESATCOM 吉利星座 Previously known as Geely Future Mobility Constellation 吉利未来出行星座
X. 15 DEC 2021, 10:00 KZ-1A (Y17) JSLC LEO 51.5° 2 sats Launch Failure
1. 02 JUN 2022, 04:00 CZ-2C (Y65) XSLC LEO 50.0° 9 sats
2. 02 FEB 2024, 23:37 CZ-2C (Y85) XSLC LEO 50.0° 11 sats
3. 05 SEP 2024, 18:30 CZ-6 (Y11) TSLC LEO 50.0° 10 sats
Total number as of 10 June 2025: 30 satellites

Various informations:
Built and Operated by Geespace (浙江时空道宇科技有限公司 (时空道宇科技)/Zhejiang Spacetime Daoyu Technology Co., Ltd.) held by Geely Holding Group (吉利控股)

https://www.geelytech.com/news/75

Quote

Geely's future travel constellation project started designing in 2019. Through three launches in 2022 and 2024, half of the satellites in the first phase have been deployed in orbit, and global commercial services will be realized by the end of this year. The overall constellation planning is divided into three phases: the first phase deploys 72 satellites to achieve global real-time data communication and provide medium and low-speed satellite communication services to global users. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2025; the second phase plans 264 mobile phone direct connection satellites to support existing mobile phone direct connection satellite communication and provide global commercial services; the third phase plans 5676 communication satellites to provide global commercial low-orbit broadband communication services.