China launches first satellites of constellation to rival Starlink
undefined 6, 2024
On August 6, Chinese state-owned Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) successfully launched 18 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre. This marks the start of SSST's "Thousand Sails Constellation," a bid to rival SpaceX's Starlink network, which has around 5,500 LEO satellites providing global internet. LEO satellites, operating at 300km to 2,000km altitudes, are cost-effective and efficient but also have military implications. China's media has expressed concerns about Starlink's potential strategic advantage.
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