Frontline | Zhongke Tianta's intelligent production line for space-borne laser communication terminals is put into operation, with an annual capacity of 600 sets planned for the first phase
With the acceleration of LEO satellite constellation construction, the volume of data that needs to be transmitted between satellites continues to grow, and inter-satellite laser communication is becoming a critical infrastructure for satellite internet. Compared to traditional microwave communication, laser communication offers higher bandwidth, lower latency, and stronger anti-interference capabilities, making it a key technical direction for large-scale satellite constellation networking.
On July 16, the Zhongke Tianta Space-borne Laser Communication Intelligent Production Line was officially put into operation in Xi'an. The first phase is planned for an annual production capacity of 600 units, and the company aims to increase the annual output to over 1,000 units by 2027.
According to Zeng Weigang, General Manager of Zhongke Tianta, the newly operational intelligent production line covers an area of approximately 2,000 square meters, located in the Curvature Engine Photon Manufacturing Park of Xi'an High-tech Zone. It covers production processes including component assembly and adjustment, complete machine integration, precision debugging, space environment simulation, and automated testing, supported by a digital management system and automated testing platform. The line can simultaneously perform performance testing on multiple devices, with an intelligent system assisting in product status monitoring and fault identification.
As planned, the mass-produced space-borne laser communication terminals will support communication rates ranging from 5Gbps to 100Gbps, featuring compact size, low power consumption, and strong anti-interference capabilities, making them compatible with various types of LEO satellite constellations.
On-site view of the opto-mechanical assembly workshop for laser communication terminal products
It is understood that Zhongke Tianta's technology originates from over 20 years of accumulated research in space laser communication by the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as "Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics").
Since 2004, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics has been developing space laser communication technologies, focusing on inter-satellite high-speed optical communication, low-light reception, and high-speed coherent communication. It has undertaken multiple national scientific research tasks, and has so far developed over 100 sets of space-borne laser communication terminals, with some products already achieving operational in-orbit performance.
The core optical components in this newly launched production line are independently developed by Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. With the production line coming into operation, the related space-borne laser communication technologies have entered the stage of large-scale manufacturing.
In addition to communication terminals, Zhongke Tianta is also simultaneously expanding its layout of aerospace intelligent products.
Recently, Zhongke Tianta launched a public beta test across all networks for its aerospace vertical large model "Huashan". Developed for the in-orbit satellite operation scenario, this model integrates professional knowledge in orbital mechanics, optoelectronics, and aerospace operation and maintenance to assist in satellite operation management.
During the operation of large-scale satellite constellations, satellites need to share real-time information such as orbital status, equipment operation conditions, and space environment data. According to Zeng Weigang, the laser communication terminals can serve as inter-satellite data transmission links, while the "Huashan" large model can analyze the relevant data for tasks such as collision risk assessment, equipment fault identification, and operational decision-making, reducing reliance on ground-based manual operation and maintenance.
It was introduced that Zhongke Tianta will continue to expand production capacity in the future and upgrade its space-borne laser communication terminal products. The "Huashan" aerospace large model will also be fully embedded into the entire process of terminal R&D, intelligent production scheduling, fault simulation, and product iteration.