China Launches Initial Satellites for Constellation Competing with Starlink, Reports State Media
China launches first satellites of constellation to rival Starlink // On Tuesday, a Chinese state-owned enterprise effectively deployed 18 satellites into orbit, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. This initiative is part of China’s endeavor to establish its own rendition of the U.S. company SpaceX’s Starlink network. The launch of these low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites was conducted by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in northern Shanxi province. These satellites were transported via a Long March 6 rocket and signify the initial group in SSST’s “Thousand Sails Constellation” strategy, as per CCTV’s report.

China’s state-backed initiative serves as a response to Starlink, SpaceX’s expanding commercial broadband network comprising approximately 5,500 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, aims to offer near-global internet coverage to individuals, businesses, and government entities. LEO satellites typically orbit at altitudes ranging from 300km to 2,000km above the Earth, offering cost-effective and efficient data transmission compared to satellites positioned at higher orbits.
China launches first satellites of constellation to rival Starlink

The control of satellites in these orbital altitudes holds considerable military significance. Following the events of 2022, particularly during the Ukraine conflict which highlighted the critical role of Starlink in battlefield communications, media outlets associated with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have released multiple articles discussing the perceived threat posed by Starlink to China’s interests. These editorials have characterized Starlink and SpaceX as components of the “space hegemony” that the United States is aiming to establish in space, granting it a “unilateral space military advantage”.