China has confirmed the successful launch of a Long March 3B rocket carrying medium earth orbit satellites into space. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) conducted the launch from the inland Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China. SpaceNews noted that the payloads, Smart Skynet-1 (01) satellites A and B, were not revealed until the time of the launch.
The satellites were designed to address different functions, with Satellite A reportedly equipped with a multi-beam, high-speed microwave link, as well as an inter-satellite two-way laser link, and an onboard digital processing and forwarding platform.
According to the CASC’s Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) which developed both satellites, Satellite B carried an inter-satellite laser link experiment payload. The SAST coordinated with the Shanghai Tsingshen Technology Development Co. Ltd., Tsinghua University and the Shanghai government on the project. The two satellites will be the first units in a medium earth orbit constellation of satellites.
The Smart SkyNet project foresees expanding the medium earth orbit presence to 8 satellites. Expansion plans call for eventually boosting the Smart SkyNet constellation to 32 satellites, which the SAST has said should provide global coverage with no blind spots, SpaceNews reported.
The larger “Shanghai Action Plan to Promote Commercial Aerospace Development and Create a Space Information Industry Highland (2023-2025)” is credited with inspiring Smart SkyNet and other space-focused initiatives. Chinese innovators have been challenged to seek out commercial opportunities for infrastructure and communications ventures in space.
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