In a major stride forward for China’s space program, a Chinese rocket has successfully launched eleven satellites, produced by one of the country’s leading automakers. The launch brings China one step closer to establishing a significant presence in low-Earth orbit, a domain currently dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The satellites were manufactured by Geespace, a subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., one of China’s largest carmakers. The launch took place from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province on Saturday at 7:37 a.m. local time. This marks Geespace’s second such launch, following the successful deployment of nine satellites in mid-2022.
China’s Race to Low-Earth Orbit
Geespace aims to establish a network of satellites approximately 600 kilometers (373 miles) above the Earth. This network could potentially link to driverless cars and enhance features in Geely vehicles, as well as provide connections for consumer electronics. Satellite communications are emerging as a critical selling point in China’s competitive auto market as the country continues to make advancements in space infrastructure.
Geespace CEO Tony Wang shared his vision of a future where “every car” is equipped with satellite functionality. The company’s satellite communication is already available in several of Geely’s electric vehicles, including the Zeekr 001 FR, 007, and the Galaxy E8. Moreover, these cars can connect to China’s Beidou satellite navigation system, further enhancing their capabilities.
Private Sector Drive to Space
China’s state-owned companies have been slow in developing a low-Earth orbit presence. Geespace, however, stands as one of the few private-sector companies propelling China’s space ambitions. To put it into perspective, SpaceX currently operates over 5,300 satellites in low-Earth orbit and launches dozens more monthly. This recent launch by Geespace comes more than 18 months after their initial satellite deployment.
The company is now racing against the clock to meet its ambitious goal of deploying the first phase of the constellation, which comprises 72 satellites, by next year. “To establish this satellite constellation, we need to set up the network, on-the-ground infrastructure and also push forward the commercialization of cloud service,” Wang said. “It is a lot of pressure.”
Global Ambitions and Future Prospects
Geely has international connections too. The group’s billionaire founder and Chairman, Li Shufu, owns nearly 10% of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, and Geely itself holds stakes in other foreign automakers like Volvo AB and Lotus Technology Inc. Li was also responsible for selecting Geespace’s Chinese name, which translates to a path in time and space.
Geely was China’s third-largest auto exporter last year, trailing only SAIC Motor Corp. and Chery Automobile Co. Geespace has grand ambitions to offer its service globally, aiming to “provide real-time satellite communication anywhere in the world except the north and south poles,” according to Wang.
With a satellite production factory capable of producing 500 satellites annually, Geespace is well-positioned to capitalize on the increasing need for satellite communications. The company has already sold dozens of satellites to Chinese startups, universities, and other stakeholders in space.
As the world continues to evolve towards self-driving and the Internet of Things, Wang believes that “the demand and the size for this market will reach an inflection point very soon.” Only time will tell if Geespace and China can catch up to SpaceX’s dominant presence in low-Earth orbit.
For more information on China’s space program and its implications, check out NASA’s detailed reports on their official website.
