Page 89 - SAMENA Trends - Jan-Mar 2024

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China to Launch 26,000 Satellites

China will start building this year its own version of StarLink, a
satellite internet constellation using low Earth orbit, with plans of
launching some 26,000 satellites to cover the entire world led by
state-run companies. Now that the military use of satellite-based
communications systems for warfare in such places as Ukraine
and Gaza is increasing, China will set up its own satellite network
to compete with the U.S. as a "space power." The construction
of a commercial spacecraft launch site for China's StarLink is
underway near the Wenchang Space Launch Site, one of the
country's spaceports for big rockets, in the southern province of
Hainan. The launch site will be used mainly by the China Satellite
Network Group, wholly owned by the Chinese government. The also consider utilizing these technologies for military and security
group was founded in 2021 after Beijing informed the International purposes, including peacekeeping efforts. A sense of crisis about
Telecommunication Union (ITU) of its plan in 2020 to launch China's moves to create StarLink-like systems is emerging in the
some 13,000 satellites to establish a high-speed internet network. U.S. and Europe. The German government blocked a space-related
China Satellite Network will launch about 1,300 satellites, or 10% company in Shanghai -- a big shareholder in a Berlin-based satellite
of the planned number, from the first half of 2024 until 2029, startup -- from buying shares in it from other holders. U.S. aerospace
according to Chinese media. This is hoped to pave the way for giant Boeing has canceled a satellite sales contract with a U.S.
liftoff by 2035 to establish a network supporting high-speed 6G startup after it was revealed that a Chinese government-backed
communications. Top executives of the group come from state- entity had invested in the company. Meanwhile, a space company
owned, military-industrial complex enterprises linked to China's partly owned by the Shanghai municipal government has a plan to
People's Liberation Army. For example, the chairman is from China put 12,000 satellites into low Earth orbit. The company said it will
Electronics Corp., which is in charge of information technology for launch more than 600 of them by the end of 2025. GalaxySpace
military use, while the president is from China Aerospace Science (Beijing) Technology, a private company founded by people from
and Technology Corp. (CASC), which develops rockets and other the internet industry, plans to send up 1,000 low-orbit satellites.
items. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China plans to Visited by Premier Li Qiang in April 2023, GalaxySpace will step up
become a space power comparable with the U.S. by around 2030. its project to build a satellite constellation with support from the
It envisions creating its own space station and exploring Mars government. In addition, military-industrial complex enterprises
while launching commercial satellites. The Central Economic Work CASC and China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. are
Conference held in mid-December decided to nurture strategic pushing ahead with plans to launch more than 300 and 200 low-
emerging industries such as the space business, which includes orbit satellites, respectively. Chang Guang Satellite Technology,
launching commercial satellites. In 2020, China completed the backed by the provincial government of Jilin among others, began
BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, prodding a large number sending up low-orbit satellites in 2015 to provide high-definition
of Chinese companies to shift to it from the Global Positioning images to customers. It plans to increase the number of satellites
System. African and other nations with close ties to China might to 138 by 2025.

Mongolia in Talks with SpaceX to Launch First National Satellite

constructed by French company Thales Alenia Space, is tasked
with improving Mongolia’s disaster management and emergency
response, increasing broadband internet access and supporting
its scientific research and education among other purposes, the
government said in a statement. “Launching our own satellite
marks a defining moment for Mongolia’s journey towards
becoming a spacefaring nation,” Mongolia’s Minister of Digital
Development and Communications Uchral Nyam-Osor said in
the statement. “It signifies Mongolia’s commitment to fostering a
thriving domestic space industry and its pursuit of a digital future
driven by cutting-edge innovation,” Nyam-Osor added. The talks
The Mongolian government said that it is in talks with Elon Musk’s came after Mongolia granted two licences for SpaceX to operate
SpaceX to launch the country’s first national telecommunications as an internet service provider using low-orbit satellites last year,
satellite, its latest move to improve connectivity and develop which would enable millions of internet users in the country to
its “domestic space economy.” The satellite, currently being access high-speed connection via Starlink.

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