Shenzhen to launch first low-orbit satellite for Hongyan Constellation project

The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen will launch its first low-orbit satellite in the second half of 2018 as part of its Hongyan Constellation project, according to reports from sznews.com.

The Hongyan Constellation consists of over 300 low-orbit satellites, along with data processing centers, and is a project designed to provide better global communication services. Launched by Shenzhen Aerospace Dongfanghong Development Company, the project is scheduled to be completed by 2023.

The Hongyan Constellation project consists of over 300 low-orbit satellites and data processing centers. [Photo/sznews.com]

According to Xue Lijun, vice general manager of the aforementioned company, people's need for better internet services is growing and the constellation project is expected to offer a faster, safer and more stable internet connection to netizens. He added that the company planned to spend six months developing their low-orbit satellites, which are multifunctional, highly integrated and can be easily launched.

The first satellite will be sent to orbit 1,100 kilometers from earth and will examine the availability of low-orbit mobile satellite frequencies, forwarding data it receives back to earth, according to insiders.

According to Xue, the satellite components will be made mostly in Shenzhen, including the solar panels, battery, radio frequency front end and microcomputer modules.

Researchers are busy testing the microsatellite that will be launched during the second half of 2018. [Photo/sznews.com]

Once the constellation project is completed, the satellite communication network will replace the ground-based network and provide mobile phones with worldwide connection, whether in a remote desert or at sea.

Within the aerospace industry, Shenzhen has become a key location for making microsatellites and satellite navigation terminals, with its civil vehicle-mounted satellite navigators accounting for nearly half of the domestic market share. The city also has advantages over other cities in new materials and precision manufacturing.

In 2017, the total value of Shenzhen's aerospace industry exceeded 14.6 billion yuan ($2.3 billion), an increase of 30.5 percent year on year. It was the fastest growing industry in the city.