On Wednesday 29th May, China launched 4 satellites from the sea, marking a significant advancement in their establishment of its first Internet Of Things (IOT) constellation in low Earth orbit. The first satellite named Tianqi 25-28, was launched off on a Ceres-1S rocket from a mobile platform designated off the coast of Shandong province in eastern China. The launch was conducted at 4:12 PM (Beijing time) and propelled the satellites towards their orbit which was approximately 850 kilometres above the Earth’s surface.
Tianqi is part of a planned constellation of IOT data connectivity satellites for Guodian Gaoke, a Beijing- based company. One of the commercial companies responsible for the launch, Galactic Energy, announced the successful launch of the satellites. This company is planning to launch four more Ceres-1 sea launches this year. Additionally, it aims to launch its first liquid propellant called Pallas-1 before the end of the year and aims to make its first stage reusable.
The recent launch marks the 12th mission for the Ceres-1 rocket, with its second from a sea platform. This mission was named ‘Beautiful world’ and gained sponsorship from the popular social media platform Sina Weibo. China established sea launch capabilities in Haiyang in Shandong, offering flexible environments for space launches thus enhancing the country’s exploration endeavours. The launch on Wednesday was China’s 25th orbital mission this year.
According to China’s main space contractor, the country is planning approximately 100 launches throughout 2024 and about 30 commercial missions. China is now closer to its goal of completing the IOT constellation before the end of the year. Upon completion, the Tianqi constellation is set to comprise 38 small satellites. It aims to bolster data connectivity across smart devices and provide global coverage and near real-time data transmission services. Guodian Gaoke, the developer and operator, outlined these objectives.
The constellation’s capabilities are projected to cater to a diverse range of users, inclusive of governmental, individual and industrial entities, thus facilitating enhanced communication and data exchange functionalities on a global scale. The CEO of Guodian Gaoke, Lu Qiang, reported to Chinese media last year that the current satellites have been deployed in a variety of scenarios. These include critical applications like emergency communications and rescue operations, environmental monitoring and protection efforts, and the transportation management of hazardous chemicals.
This utilisation highlights the practicality and efficacy of the Tianqi satellite in addressing societal needs. Furthermore, in future he will expand the services to other fields which include outdoor emergency response and military applications. According to the company’s website, the Tianqi constellation only requires small terminal equipment that is low in cost and uses minimal power. The smallest terminal is around 3.5cm (1.8 inches) and the production cost of such equipment is less than 1000 yuan (US$140).
In contrast to the two current Tianqi satellites deployed in orbit, the latest batch boasts enhanced features, including heightened stability and fast data communication capabilities allowing for 10-minute global coverage. The company shared this update on Tuesday via its official WeChat account. This marks the second time Galactic Energy has facilitated the deployment of the Tianqi satellites for Guodian Gaoke. In September last year, Tianqi 21-24 were launched into an 800 kilometre orbit from a sea-based platform near Shandong.
ALSO READ: Chinese astronauts set a new spacewalk record on Tiangong Space Station
