China has officially filed paperwork for the launch of nearly 200,000 internet satellites.
It marks the starting signal for the largest space infrastructure project in human history.
Details
🛡️ Allegations of collision risk: This move comes just weeks after Beijing labeled Elon Musk’s Starlink a "collision risk" and a "security threat."
- Most recently, the Chinese space station Tiangong had to perform several evasive maneuvers to avoid Starlink debris.
⚖️ In space, it’s first come, first served: Through these applications, China is reserving valuable "space real estate" for decades, effectively blocking the expansion of Western competitors.
🏗️ The "national team" takes over: Behind this mammoth project is the newly founded Radio Innovation Institute. It bundles the power of state-owned giants to catch up with the US lead in space infrastructure.
🚀 Space by the numbers: The applications filed with the UN agency ITU include two networks with 96,714 satellites each.
- For comparison: Starlink currently has around 6,000 satellites in orbit and plans for a total of "only" 42,000. This means China intends to outnumber Musk nearly fivefold.
Excursion: Kessler Syndrome
Scientists are warning of "Kessler Syndrome": A single collision among such a massive number of satellites could trigger a chain reaction of debris, potentially rendering Earth's orbit unusable for generations.
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