The East Asian superpower, China, has launched its ambitious take on providing its region with satellite internet, with the Guowang megaconstellation successfully reaching orbit to begin its latest operations. This new network of internet-beaming satellites would deliver a new kind of wireless connection for the region, one that would rival the globally dominant service of SpaceX's Starlink.
Starlink may have gotten the head start thanks to its massive success in launches and delivering satellite internet service, but China is looking to catch up in these efforts with thousands of satellites coming soon to orbit.
ArsTechnica recently reported that China has launched its first-ever foray into satellite internet operations which it calls the "Guowang," and Beijing wants to transform it into a 'megaconstellation' comprised of tens of thousands of satellites in orbit. The company reportedly launched its first batch of internet satellites to orbit aboard its Long March 5B rocket.
However, this was not a normal flight for China as instead of having the Long March 5B venture alone, the Asian superpower also integrated a new upper-stage rocket with the Yuanzheng 2 that helped the payload reach orbit.
China launched 10 Guawong satellites in this mission, setting off at around 5 AM last December 16 from the Wernchang Space Launch Site located on the country's southernmost region, Hainan Island.
China delivered the Guawong internet satellites 680 miles above the planet where it is now sitting in orbit, marking a landmark development for the country's space programs. The plan for China's megaconstellation looks to complete 13,000 satellites delivered to orbit to beam satellite internet connection to its regions.
The Guawong megaconstellation involves many Chinese companies to help in building the 13,000 satellites needed to operate its internet service from space, over the next decade. It is known that China's plans for Guawong were first publicized four years ago, only making its debut now.