China kicks off Guowang megaconstellation with Long March 5B launch from Hainan

HELSINKI — China began the construction of its Guowang megaconstellation early Monday with a launch from Hainan island.

A Long March 5B with a Yuanzheng-2 upper stage lifted off from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center at 5:00 a.m. Eastern (1000 UTC) Dec. 16, carrying the first group of satellites for China’s national Guowang (“national net”) megaconstellation. Despite no official coverage of the launch, amateur live streams provided footage from Wenchang, showing a large number of spectators on beaches close in viewing distance of the launch pad.

The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) confirmed the success of the launch two hours after liftoff. Aboard were the satellite Internet low-orbit 01 satellite group, according to SAST, revealing no information about the number of satellites, nor basic details such as their orbits, satellite mass and manufacturer.

Xinhua likewise referred to the satellites only as a first group of low Earth orbit satellites for a satellite internet constellation. U.S. space domain awareness will likely catalog the satellites in orbit in the coming hours.

Guowang aims to provide global communications coverage from low Earth orbit and is seen as a response to Starlink and other constellations. Despite the ostensibly civilian focus of the Guowang constellation, the availability of details regarding the project is limited.

Unlike previous missions, the first stage of the Long March 5B is not expected to reach orbit, avoiding an uncontrolled reentry. This is due to the rocket using the YZ-2 upper stage to insert the satellites into their intended orbits.

The launch marks the start of the construction of the Guowang constellation. The existence of the Guowang plans first became known in 2020 through filings for just under 13,000 satellites with the International Telecommunication Union. The constellation is managed by the China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd., or China Satnet, established in April 2021. The company, with a new headquarters in Xiong’an New Area in Hebei Province, oversees the design, deployment, and operation of the constellation.

China Satnet will need, according to ITU regulations, to launch half of the 13,000 satellites by 2032. This will require a steep rise in China’s launch rate while continuing with other programs.

One country, two megaconstellations

It is not the first Chinese megaconstellation to begin being constructed this year. The Qianfan/Thousand Sails project, a Shanghai-based megaconstellation, started later but has already sent its first 54 satellites into orbit across three launches this year.

A fourth launch could take place on a Long March 8 rocket from the new Hainan commercial space launch center as soon as Dec. 22 Eastern. Spacesail aims to construct a 14,000-satellite constellation, with the aim of having around 600 satellites in orbit by the end of 2025. SSST has garnered substantial support, securing approximately $943 million in funding in early 2024.

The Chinese government approval of two low Earth orbit communications suggests a high strategic value is placed on such systems.

The megaconstellations have been as enablers for China’s digital economy, providing broadband services in remote and underserved areas, and part of a satellite internet project for China’s “new infrastructures” policy unveiled in 2020.

By offering satellite internet services internationally, Guowang and Qianfan could strengthen China’s soft power and economic influence, particularly in developing countries. Qianfan has already signed an agreement with Brazil to provide services from 2026.

A domestically controlled satellite network ensures China’s strategic independence from foreign providers like Starlink. The Chinese military also noted the value of that system from the early days of Ukraine’s response to the Russian invasion of the country in 2022.

Both constellations could also provide contracts for China’s commercial satellite makers and its fleet of commercial launch service providers, which are developing a range of reusable medium-lift launchers.

Launch rate inflection point

The launch of the first satellites is a long-awaited milestone which had been expected to come earlier. The event, however—alongside Qianfan—marks an inflection point in China’s already-growing launch rate.

China is leveraging the Long March 5B, originally designed to launch the country’s space station modules and a crew spacecraft for lunar missions, to launch its megaconstellations, along with an enhanced Long March 8 rocket expected to debut next year. Commercial actors will also play a role.

The country is also expanding its spaceports to facilitate a much greater launch rate with more diverse launch vehicles in order to make the satellite deployment plans feasible.

The launch was China’s 64th orbital launch attempt of 2024. While this indicates China is someway short of the targeted 100 launches this year, progress on megaconstellations, spaceports and new rockets suggests that leap could take place in 2025.

The construction of Guowang and Qianfan and growing launch rate will likely have ramifications for space traffic management, space debris and astronomy, as well as having a geopolitical impact.