The first satellite of the hongyun project, independently developed by China aerospace science and industry corporation, was successfully launched into a predetermined orbit by a long March 11 carrier rocket at the jiuquan satellite launch center on December 22, marking a substantial step in the construction of China's low-orbit broadband communication satellite system.
Desert ocean, enjoy the Internet: "hand in hand" Chinese satellite constellation
The Internet has become an essential part of life. Whether living in a desert oasis or a mirage, or flying freely at 10,000 meters, people hope to enjoy the same Internet speed and service experience as at home.
At present, all countries in the world are actively laying out the low-orbit satellite communication system and actively participating in seizing this blue ocean with huge potential. Spacex's "Star Link" program and China's "hongyun project" and "hongyan constellation" are examples of such low-orbit satellite communication constellations.
The first satellite of hongyun project is China's first low-orbit broadband communication technology verification satellite, and for the first time, millimeter wave phased array technology is applied to China's low-orbit broadband communication satellite, which can realize more flexible business mode by using dynamic beam. Subsequently, low-orbit space-based Internet experiment and application demonstration will be carried out based on this satellite.
The hongyun project plans to launch a total of 156 satellites, which will operate in orbit through networking. These satellites will operate hand in hand in an orbit 1,000 kilometers above the ground, basically realizing broadband Internet access covering the whole world. At that time, you can enjoy the same Internet access experience at home no matter where you are.
According to the plan, the whole "hongyun project" is divided into three stages: the first stage is to launch the first star at the end of 2018; the second stage is to launch four operational test stars at the end of the 13th five-year plan; and the third stage is to complete the construction of the tiandi-earth integration system by the middle of the 14th five-year plan, with full operational conditions.
"Small satellite, low orbit, broadband" : three key words of hongyun project's first satellite
The successful launch of the first satellite of hongyun project not only marks the first in-orbit test of millimeter-wave multi-beam phased array communication antenna and other advanced technologies, but also marks an important step towards the commercialization and industrialization of China's space technology. In the opinion of the chief project officer, only by combining commercial satellites with the needs of the public can the space industry truly enter the business model. And hongyun project "small satellite, low orbit, broadband" combination of Settings, again let the lofty space technology into thousands of households become possible.
In terms of satellite size, small satellites facilitate the realization of mass manufacturing, which is conducive to the realization of product upgrading at a low cost. In terms of track selection, low orbit can better realize the low delay of signal propagation and facilitate the miniaturization of terminal. According to different user needs, the researchers have developed three types of receivers, namely fixed, convenient and vehicle-mounted receivers, for users to choose and use.
In addition, hongyun engineering technology verifies that the satellite payload adopts multi-beam phased array antenna technology, which can realize flexible and high-speed Internet access.
"With multi-beam phased array antenna technology, the position of the beam can be adjusted at any time, so that the user can be where the beam is." The researchers said, "the application of the new technology will enable hongyun to form a uniform network. Where the ground network has been covered, the hongyun engineering system can be used as a supplement.
Annual output of 100 satellites: "China speed" of central and local cooperation in building batch satellites
Hundreds of satellites have been launched into orbit and netted. How to ensure the completion of satellite research with high quality and efficiency is a difficult problem facing the "hongyun project" research team of China aerospace science and industry corporation.
Faced with a tight development cycle, the project team put forward the idea of grasping the key to development, making efficient and streamlined development process, carrying out multiple work in parallel, and innovating the development mode and business philosophy of China's commercial space industry.
With the verification of hongyun engineering technology, the space science and industry also plan the future industrial pattern of hongyun engineering synchronously. China aerospace science and industry corporation, as the "national team" in the aerospace field, is exploring the "central cooperation" with wuhan city, hubei province.
The aerospace science and industry will carry out multi-mode applications such as vehicle-mounted, ship-borne and airborne applications for individual users and special users, driving the downstream output value of the low-orbit space-based Internet constellation system to 100 billion yuan.
At the same time, in order to realize the mass production of hongyun project, China's first large-scale satellite production base is about to start construction in wuhan. After the completion of the satellite industrial park, a new development mode of the whole business system will be constructed to get through the links of research and development, technology and production integration, so as to meet the capacity of annual production of more than 100 satellites.