China Satellite Launch Marks Beginning of Thousand Sails Constellation to Rival Starlink’s Global Network

China has launched the first batch of satellites for its “Thousand Sails Constellation,” a megaconstellation designed to rival SpaceX’s Starlink ¹. The constellation, also known as the “G60 Starlink Plan,” aims to deploy over 15,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites ¹. Here are some key details about the project:

Launch: The first batch of satellites was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi province, led by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST).

Goals: The project aims to provide a global network coverage by 2027 and deploy 15,000 satellites before 2030.

Satellite production: The G60 digital satellite production factory in Shanghai has started producing satellites for the constellation, with a production capacity of 300 satellites per year.

Competition with Starlink: The Thousand Sails Constellation is seen as China’s answer to SpaceX’s Starlink, with the goal of providing a similar near-global internet network.

–Military implications: The project has military implications, with the potential to affect the balance of power between warring countries .