Heute hat die privatwirtschaftliche Sternenverbindung aus Zhejiang zum vierten Mal erfolgreich ins All gestartet.
In the night, a dazzling light pierced the sky.
At 00:31 today (August 9th), the fourth orbital plane of the Geely Constellation was successfully launched with 11 satellites in a single rocket from the sea area near Rizhao, Shandong. The satellites smoothly entered the predetermined orbit, and all 11 satellites are in normal condition. The launch mission was a complete success.
It was Spacetime DaoYu, a commercial space enterprise under Geely Holding, that created this spectacular scene. It took 7 years from the initial design blueprint of the constellation to the continuous construction of the private "Starlink" in Zhejiang. With the success of this launch mission, the number of in - orbit satellites of Spacetime DaoYu has increased to 41.
In a way, this is a microcosm of the rise of China's commercial space industry. Looking back to 2015, the first year of China's commercial space era began. After a decade, the stories here are becoming more and more exciting.
Just now, 11 satellites in one rocket
The private "Starlink" in Zhejiang emerges
After three years, a "Starlink" map built and operated by private enterprises in Zhejiang has quietly emerged.
As is well - known, satellite orbits and spectrum resources are very limited, and a global competition for low - Earth orbits is inevitable. According to data from CCID Consulting, it is estimated that by 2029, a total of about 57,000 low - orbit satellites will be deployed in the Earth's low - Earth orbit, and the global satellite constellation networking construction has entered a period of intensive deployment.
However, the construction of a satellite constellation is a long - term and complex systematic project. Although a giant constellation with tens of thousands of satellites may seem sufficient, the actual progress is often lagging. It is found that enterprises that make steady progress can gain a first - mover advantage.
Spacetime DaoYu and the Geely Constellation are undoubtedly a typical example. From the launch of the first orbital plane with 9 satellites in June 2022 to the second orbital plane with 11 satellites and the third orbital plane with 10 satellites in 2024, Spacetime DaoYu had previously deployed 30 satellites in the 600 - km orbit.
It is worth mentioning that after the launch of the third orbital plane of satellites, Spacetime DaoYu officially started providing satellite communication services to overseas users. This is also the first time that a Chinese commercial space enterprise has provided low - orbit satellite IoT communication services to global users. Its milestone significance is self - evident.
With the completion of this launch mission, Spacetime DaoYu has pressed the accelerator again: the number of in - orbit satellites of Spacetime DaoYu has increased to 41, and it is expected that the number of in - orbit satellites will increase to 64 within the next two months. This means that by then, the Geely Constellation will achieve real - time seamless data communication for any surface on the globe except the North and South Poles.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. As a global low - orbit IoT communication constellation planned and built by Spacetime DaoYu, the Geely Constellation is being rapidly built through orbital plane - level launches. In the first phase, 72 satellites will be deployed to form a network, realizing global real - time IoT communication and providing global commercial low - orbit satellite IoT communication services.
Behind this is the original aspiration of a hardcore team to pursue their space dreams. Wang Yang, the CEO of Spacetime DaoYu, has long been concerned about one thing: although the human ground network is already quite perfect, 94% of the world still has no signal coverage. Facing this cold figure, the construction of a satellite constellation is extremely urgent.
Wang Yang was once asked, "Is it worth spending money to provide signals in areas with few people?" In his opinion, this is an inevitable trend because humans will continuously expand the boundaries of space. For example, conquering uninhabited areas and even traveling in space in the future. All these future travel scenarios rely on satellites, and the Geely Constellation came into being.
Why choose low - orbit satellites? Compared with high - orbit satellites, the cost of low - orbit satellites has decreased by one or two orders of magnitude, and the latency is lower.
Actually, this is also a global consensus. Looking around, the well - known SpaceX "Starlink Project" also deploys a large number of low - orbit satellites to supplement the connection to most areas of the world, especially those areas difficult to cover by traditional ground networks.
However, there are also obvious differences between them. Starlink provides satellite Internet services, which is a broadband satellite network for individual, family, and organizational users. In contrast, the Geely Constellation provides satellite IoT services. It is a narrow - band satellite communication constellation designed for "mobile scenarios" such as vehicles, aircraft, ships, and handheld terminals. Centered on "things", it also takes into account the emergency communication needs of "people".
In other words, the commercial values generated by the two are different. Satellite Internet constellations focus on "high - speed Internet access" in fixed places. Satellite IoT constellations like the Geely Constellation focus on low - power, lightweight communication capabilities, aiming to "connect every mobile terminal". It emphasizes IoT communication scenarios such as short messages and status feedback, similar to "Space WeChat", and is the new infrastructure for building an integrated space - ground IoT communication system.
In comparison, the Geely Constellation is more "down - to - earth". Its goal is to realize a more inclusive, more integrated with the ground network, and more in line with the industrial needs of the commercial low - orbit satellite IoT. "Embedding satellite capabilities into daily life" is the ultimate goal of Spacetime DaoYu.
The rise of a commercial space unicorn
Undoubtedly, technological innovation is the foundation for a company's survival.
Currently, with the accelerated deployment of low - orbit constellation systems, the demand for satellite manufacturing has increased significantly, and the market has an urgent need for low - cost and high - efficiency manufacturing models. According to the Mordor Intelligence report, the global satellite manufacturing market is expected to reach $24.493 billion in 2024 and will grow to $38.969 billion by 2029, with an average annual growth rate of about 9.73%.
"Look at the product in the early stage, look at mass production in the long run." This is a profound lesson left by the development path of new - energy vehicles to the market, and the commercial space industry is no exception. How to achieve large - scale and rapid mass production is a technological challenge for commercial space enterprises.
In the field of satellite manufacturing, after repeated exploration, Spacetime DaoYu's answer is to "manufacture satellites like making cars". Backed by Geely, Spacetime DaoYu has an inborn automotive gene. It creatively integrates satellite manufacturing with automotive automated production lines and has built a satellite super - factory in the Taizhou Bay New Area of Zhejiang.
Zhejiang, the home base of Spacetime DaoYu, has an automotive manufacturing industrial cluster. The local intelligent equipment and process systems are the inherent advantages of Spacetime DaoYu. Relying on this, the Geely Satellite Super - Factory has achieved intelligent manufacturing of satellites in the entire process from assembly, integration, and testing (AIT). The satellite production cycle has been compressed to less than 28 days, with an annual production capacity of up to 500 satellites, and the manufacturing cost has been reduced by about 45%. Unconsciously, it has become another bright business card for high - end manufacturing in Zhejiang.
In the field of satellite applications, Spacetime DaoYu has achieved large - scale application and implementation of satellite communication technology and high - precision positioning technology. Since September 2023, the vehicle - mounted satellite communication technology independently developed by Spacetime DaoYu has been officially applied in large - scale vehicle models. It was first installed in the ZEEKR 001 FR, marking the large - scale implementation of satellite communication capabilities from aerospace - grade applications to the civilian market. So far, the vehicle - mounted satellite communication technology provided by Spacetime DaoYu has been standard or optional equipment in mass - produced models of multiple brands such as ZEEKR, Lynk & Co, and Geely Galaxy.
In the absence of a ground network or when the ground network is interrupted, users can connect to satellites through the vehicle infotainment system and use the two - way satellite messaging or satellite phone call functions to achieve emergency contact with the outside world, location reporting, and help - seeking calls. This ability provides the public with "a sense of security of never losing contact" during travel, especially suitable for communication support in extreme scenarios such as uninhabited areas, mountains, and earthquakes, highlighting the important value of satellite communication in the field of intelligent travel.
China's great space era
Going global
For a long time, the global commercial space market has been almost monopolized by leading enterprises in the United States and Europe, and it has been difficult for Chinese commercial space enterprises to make substantial breakthroughs on the international stage. However, with the continuous maturity of China's commercial space technology and the improvement of the industrial chain, the Geely Constellation is gradually breaking this pattern and starting a comprehensive breakthrough of Chinese commercial space in the global market.
The Geely Constellation accurately targets emerging markets with weak global communication infrastructure and urgent satellite communication needs. While building the constellation, it has successfully established a commercial cooperation network covering more than 20 countries and regions in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This "close - to - demand, in - depth local" strategy not only fills the gap left by the insufficient coverage of traditional ground networks but also promotes the development and upgrading of the local digital economy and smart industries.
Relying on close cooperation with local telecom operators, the Geely Constellation has quickly completed multiple commercial verifications and technological implementations. Taking 2024 as an example, Spacetime DaoYu reached a strategic cooperation with Oman's Azyan Telecom. The commercial POC test showed that the communication success rate reached 99.15%, and the network availability exceeded 99.97%. By the end of the year, it plans to provide stable satellite IoT communication services for tens of thousands of fishing boats in the local area, greatly improving the safety and efficiency of the marine fishery.
In April, Spacetime DaoYu and Malaysia's ALTEL jointly established a joint - venture company, ADISB, to officially promote the local application and implementation of the Geely Constellation in Malaysia. This project has attracted the attention of high - level government officials such as the Malaysian Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications. In the future, it will promote the implementation of satellite IoT communication services in fields such as digital cities, smart agriculture, and energy.
At the same time, Spacetime DaoYu signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with Saudi Arabia's ATSS to support the technical verification, market access, and commercial application of the Geely Constellation in Saudi Arabia, helping to implement the "Vision 2030" strategy and promoting the digital transformation of key fields such as smart cities and intelligent transportation.
In addition, the Geely Constellation is actively expanding into markets in North Africa and Latin America. It cooperates with Soremar, a maritime communication giant in Morocco with more than 80% of the market share, to accelerate the digital upgrading of industries such as transportation, energy, and agriculture, demonstrating the comprehensive strength of Chinese commercial space enterprises in building digital infrastructure globally.
Compared with the traditional constellation construction model that relies on huge capital and long cycles, the Geely Constellation promotes the rapid realization of a commercial closed - loop with a more efficient and focused solution, reflecting the strategic advantage of "overtaking on the curve" for China's commercial space industry. As the global market layout deepens, the Geely Constellation is expected to occupy an important position in the global satellite IoT communication market in the future and become an important benchmark for China's space industry going international.
Looking up at the sky, among the stars, the bright constellation composed of commercial satellites shines brightly. In the words of an investor, the Chinese people who missed the "Age of Discovery" must not miss the upcoming "Great Space Era".
This article is from the WeChat official account “Investment World” (ID: pedaily2012), author: Liu Bo, published by 36Kr with authorization.