China is set to launch the first 18 satellites in a constellation designed to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink, according to a Chinese government-owned news agency. The country plans to deploy more than 100 satellites this year and thousands more by the end of the decade.
The initial launch will take place at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province and is led by the government-owned Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology company. This effort is part of the “Thousand Sails Constellation” project, aimed at creating a global broadband network similar to SpaceX’s Starlink.
Currently, SpaceX has over 6,200 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), which typically lies up to 1,200 miles above Earth’s surface. Starlink satellites orbit around 340 miles, enabling rapid data transmission between the satellites and Earth. This provides high-speed internet for governments, individuals, and businesses.
Older internet satellites operate in “high Earth orbit,” nearly 65 times higher than LEO, making them more expensive to launch and slower in data transmission. These older satellites struggle to support applications that require high data rates, such as video streaming and online gaming.
China has expressed concerns over the national security threats posed by Starlink, fearing its potential use in military conflicts. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has speculated that Starlink could track missiles, enhance drone and stealth fighter communication, and even destroy Chinese satellites. Ukrainian forces have used Starlink to direct drones in the conflict with Russia.
The Thousand Sails project is not China’s only measure against Starlink; Chinese scientists are also exploring the use of lasers on submarines to destroy Starlink satellites.
China aims to launch 108 satellites for the constellation this year and plans to have 15,000 satellites in orbit by 2030.