428-Satellite Constellation

In a recent development that has sparked intrigue and concern, China has submitted filings to the International Telecommunications Union for the deployment of a staggering 193,428 satellite constellation. This ambitious project, undertaken by the newly formed Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation, dwarfs SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet system, which aims to operate 49,000 satellites. The Chinese institute’s filings, which include two constellations, CTC-1 and CTC-2, each with a planned 96,714 satellites, have raised eyebrows in the global community.

The sheer scale of this project eclipses not only SpaceX’s ambitions but also China’s own satellite internet constellations, Guowang and Qianfan, which aim to operate over 10,000 satellites. While details about the Chinese institute and the purpose of the satellites are scarce, one filing suggests that the constellations will utilize a wide range of radio frequencies and be deployed across multiple orbits, including those where Starlink satellites reside.

The involvement of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics has led some to speculate that the 193,000 satellite constellation may be defense-related. This development has significant implications, particularly in the context of the ongoing space race. The US Federal Communications Commission has expressed concerns about China’s satellite ambitions, viewing ← →