**HELSINKI** — As global interest in satellite technology surges, China's ambitious goal of establishing a vast constellation of satellites known as the "Thousand Sails" has reached another milestone. On December 5, 2024, the Long March 6A rocket successfully launched the third batch of 18 satellites, further advancing the nation's efforts to provide low Earth orbit communications services by 2025.
A New Era of Communication
The Thousand Sails constellation, sometimes referred to as Qianfan or G60 Starlink, is designed to deliver high-speed internet and other telecommunication services across the globe. Led by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), the project represents a significant step toward enhancing China's technological capacity in satellite communications.
The Launch: Details and Implications
The Long March 6A lifted off from the **Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center** at 11:41 PM Eastern (0441 UTC, Dec. 5). According to an announcement from the state-owned Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), all payloads were deployed successfully into their respective polar orbits shortly after launch.
The satellites deployed will serve as the first generation of the Thousand Sails project and were developed by the Shanghai Microsatellite Engineering Center.
Building the Future: Ambitious Plans Ahead
SSST's strategy includes constructing a **14,000-satellite** constellation with the intention of achieving operational capacity of around **600 satellites** in orbit by the end of 2025. The funding received—in the form of approximately $943 million in early 2024—has been pivotal for advancing this project.
New Horizons: International Agreements
In a bid to augment its market reach, the company reached an agreement with **Brazil**, which will see Thousand Sails beginning service to the country in 2026. This development follows a notable dispute between Brazil and the **X** social media platform owned by Elon Musk, resulting in the Supreme Court temporarily freezing Starlink's bank accounts in Brazil.
The Technical Aspects of Long March 6A
The Long March 6A rocket, a product of SAST's innovative engineering efforts, marks a significant advancement in China's launch capabilities with its unique combination of a liquid propellant core stage and solid propellant side boosters. This versatile launch vehicle can transport up to **4,500 kilograms** of payload to a **700-kilometer** sun-synchronous orbit.
| Rocket Name | Payload Capacity (kg) | Orbit Height (km) |
|---|---|---|
| Long March 6A | 4,500 | 700 |
Challenges Faced
Despite its capability, the Long March 6A has not been without challenges. The rocket has experienced fragmentation issues with its upper stage, leading to concerns over orbital debris. Initial launches have reportedly resulted in more than **700 pieces** of debris, posing potential risks to other space operations.
Moreover, astronomers have expressed concerns regarding the brightness of the Qianfan satellites, fearing the possible disruption to astronomical observations and studies.
China's Record and Future Prospects
This recent launch marks China’s **62nd orbital launch attempt** in 2024 and is part of the nation’s ambitious plan to reach a total of **67 launches** throughout the year—an all-time high. Officials have disclosed plans to increase this number to approximately **100 launches** per year moving forward, illustrating the nation's determination to take a leading role in global space endeavors.
| Year | Launch Attempts |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2023 | 67 |
| 2024 (Projected) | 100 |
Conclusion and Next Steps
As China continues to push the boundaries of space technology, the successful deployment of the Thousand Sails satellites underscores its strategic focus on establishing a robust communications infrastructure for domestic and global reach. The upcoming years will be critical for addressing the challenges encountered with debris and satellite brightness, while also working towards achieving its ambitious constellation goals.
“The Thousand Sails constellation demonstrates a crucial step in our national strategy for space and advanced technology development.” – **SSST Representative**
