A Chinese firm's answer to Elon Musk's Starlink just launched its first satellites for the thousands-strong network Beijing plans to build

Tue, 08/06/2024 - 00:13

A Long March-6 rocket lifts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. — The first 18 satellites in the Thousand Sail Constellation were launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, pictured here, according to local media.
Zheng Bin/Xinhua via Getty Images

A Chinese company just kicked off its planned 15,000-strong satellite network to rival Starlink.
The Thousand Sails Constellation, run by a Shanghai firm, plans to reach that final tally by 2030.
China's space push has seen at least three companies announce 10,000-satellite constellations.

A Chinese state-backed company has launched its first 18 satellites in its bid to build a vast orbital network aimed at rivaling Starlink, according to local media.