China's Space Program Thread II

[taxiya]

GW Group-10 satellites will be used to conduct technical trials and validations of direct-to-smartphone broadband satellite links:

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View attachment 159393

"validations of direct-to-smartphone broadband satellite", this is what I am waiting for, a defining difference from starlink or oneweb etc.

 

[ZachL111]

Absolutely! Yes - on all these points.

For sure, will do.

On the news, I will try to post daily as I have been doing, on the finances I will probably add a section to my posts for it, and the papers I will post each week since journals are often slower to update.

 

[Proteus]

"validations of direct-to-smartphone broadband satellite", this is what I am waiting for, a defining difference from starlink or oneweb etc.

I think Starlink is beginning testing it too.

 

[iewgnem]

I think Starlink is beginning testing it too.

Starlink runs on Ku and Ka band, latest ones have LTE frequency transceivers but on a side band and only does a bit above 3G speed, its fundementally different from D2C constellations with large celluar band arrays.

Think of it as first mover disadvantage.

 

[ZachL111]

NEWS:

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I have included the relevant paragraphs, since the last one is just about AI applications, nothing to really do with space.

From August 28 to 29, as one of the eight sub-events of the 7th China–Arab States Expo, a matchmaking and exchange event on high-quality development in meteorology was held in Yinchuan, Ningxia, under the theme “Deepening China–Arab Meteorological Cooperation, Building a Climate-Resilient Future.” During the event, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) and the United Arab Emirates’ National Center of Meteorology (NCM) initiated preparations to establish a meteorological satellite data application center; CMA and the meteorological services of Jordan and other countries jointly launched the “Mazu (MAZU)” early warning system R&D program; and CMA and the Egyptian Meteorological Authority began a joint program to develop AI meteorological models. These pragmatic initiatives mark a series of achievements by China and Arab meteorological authorities in jointly addressing global climate challenges and deepening cooperation on early warning.

To address the UAE’s needs in meteorological satellite remote-sensing applications and capacity building, CMA and the UAE’s NCM will focus on three priorities—establishing a data-sharing framework, planning technical pathways for remote-sensing applications, and joint talent training—to build a meteorological satellite data application center together. In April of this year, the two sides signed a memorandum on meteorological satellite cooperation, laying a solid foundation for the center’s preparation. At present, the Fengyun meteorological satellite data platform has been connected with 17 Arab countries, providing 40 products across four major categories. It has also provided high-frequency, customized monitoring services to Gulf countries for many consecutive years.

The joint R&D program for the “Mazu (MAZU)” early warning system will, in response to the needs of Jordan and other countries, develop locally adapted early warning systems and a comprehensive package of solutions that are customizable, easy to deploy, and sustainable. Building on the open framework of China’s national early warning solution “Mazu (MAZU),” CMA has developed cloud-based early warning systems tailored to different local applications. Leveraging high-performance computing resources, Fengyun meteorological satellites, numerical weather prediction models, AI meteorological models, and AI early warning algorithms, these systems have enabled effective deployment and application of hazardous-weather warnings across varied scenarios.

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On the 26th, a pre-approval public notice for a construction-project planning permit posted on the official website of the Jinan Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning shows that Jigang Group Co., Ltd. plans to build a project titled “Heavy-Lift Rocket Headquarters and Final Assembly & Manufacturing Base” in the Linqing (Lingang) Economic Development Zone of Jinan.

The project is located south of Wenliang Road, west of Yangjiahe West Road, east of Zhiyi Road, and north of Tong’an Street in the development zone. China Aviation Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd. is responsible for the design. The gross floor area is 50,854.42 m². According to the public notice, three primary buildings will be constructed:

• Rocket Final Assembly & Test Plant: building height 18.35 m; on-ground floor area counted toward plot ratio: 59,986.38 m².
• Power Station: building height 8.35 m; on-ground floor area counted toward plot ratio: 1,620.55 m².
• Parts Manufacturing Workshop: building height 15.35 m; on-ground floor area counted toward plot ratio: 23,888.45 m².

As the lead enterprise in Jinan’s aerospace information industry chain, Jigang Group has partnered with Deep Blue Aerospace to build the Deep Blue–Jigang Changqing Test Base, focusing on rocket engine and propulsion-system testing. Three major test stands have been completed so far:

• the 101 Rocket Engine Test Stand, with a 20-ton thrust test capability;
• the 103 Rocket Propulsion System Test Stand, with a design thrust of 600 tons; and
• the 102 Dual-Bay Rocket Engine Test Stand, with a 130-ton test capability.

Construction of the Heavy-Lift Rocket Headquarters and Final Assembly & Manufacturing Base will further strengthen Jinan’s aerospace industrial layout and inject new momentum into the development of the city’s space-information industry.

FINANCE AND MARKET NEWS:

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Here are the relevant parts of both articles, sparing each detail:

On August 28, satellite-communications concept stocks opened strong. As of press time, Guangku Technology (300620.SZ), Zhenlei Technology (688270.SH), and Creative Information (300366.SZ) were up more than 10%. Xingwang Yuda (002829.SZ), Fudan Microelectronics (688385.SH), and Hwa Create (300045.SZ) also rose.

“In the future, we may not need to change numbers or SIM cards—mobile phones could connect directly to satellite signals to send messages or make calls. Satellite communications are accelerating from being a ‘high-end’ technology into daily life,” said Wu Shaojun, Chairman and General Manager of Aurora Satcom. He added that satellite communications are gradually becoming a universal service and part of public infrastructure.

An executive at a Shanghai-based satellite manufacturer emphasized the importance of activating a market-driven supply system: “Only with more market-driven participants can we bring costs down across the industry.”

Wu noted that the development of the satellite-communications industry will bring new opportunities to many sectors: “Once coverage capacity strengthens, it can improve network access in remote and border regions and support remote education, telemedicine, and digital life.”

For everyday users, small-satellite coverage could ensure reliable connections at sea, on plateaus, or in areas without terrestrial networks. At the industrial level, satellite communications may integrate more deeply with automobiles, ships, and aviation, providing communication assurance for emergency rescue, disaster warnings, and field operations.

Within the commercial space industry chain, satellite communications are gradually becoming one of the most reliable revenue segments.

On the A-share market, 50 listed companies are involved in satellite communications. Of the 41 that disclosed semiannual reports or previews, Beidou Navigation turned losses into profits, 5 reduced losses, and 11 reported year-on-year net-profit growth—about 40% showed positive results.

China Satellite (600118.SH), which hit its limit-up today, reported in H1 2025 that revenue grew 28.0% year-on-year, but net profit attributable to shareholders fell 458.67%. The company explained that component deliveries increased significantly, but the growth came mainly from lower-margin commercial-space products.

Another stock that hit the limit-up, Sanwei Communications (002115.SZ), disclosed in its H1 report that satellite-communications operations generated revenue of 93.46 million yuan, while overseas communications business generated 238.13 million yuan, maintaining steady growth. However, overall H1 operating revenue was 4.41 billion yuan, down 24.91% year-on-year, and net profit was 2.62 million yuan, down 24.18%.

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Combining the two articles for ease of reading:

According to a fast report from Daily Economic News, on August 28, Piesat Information Technology Co., Ltd. (航天宏图) announced that in the first half of 2025 it achieved operating revenue of RMB 290 million, representing a year-on-year decline of 65.63%. Net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company was a loss of RMB 248 million, compared with a loss of RMB 185 million in the same period last year.

Piesat (stock code: 688066.SH) announced that on August 28, 2025, the company’s Board of Directors received a written resignation report from Vice General Manager Li Jisheng. Li applied to resign from his position due to personal reasons. Following his resignation, he will no longer hold any position within the company.

I am going to change it up a bit, to make the scheduling easier for myself. Each day, I will post Chinese space news in general, and every three days I will post finance news. That is better for everyone too, otherwise I will just be posting each day about a minor stock movement most of the time.

Edit: Plus I realized the character limit is going to stop me from posting as much, and I hate breaking up posts into multiple parts, feels spammy. Worst case, I publish a new Substack and start writing about this and post the links here.

 

[taxiya]

I think Starlink is beginning testing it too.

starlink to phone is like adding wifi to phone. GW's direct to phone is part of 6G, integral part of mobile network. different things

 

[TheRathalos]

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Former Steel giang Jigang Group is really going into the space sector, they're almost signing with half the private space industry lol.
Outside of Space Pioneer and Deep Blue Aerospace previously mentionned in this thread, they've also recently signed aggreements for infrastructure construction in Jinan with Orienspace, iSTAR (leading private fairing manufacturer), and I also recently note Yilong Aerospace (as well as talks with CAS Space).
And they recently started an "aerospace investment fund" of 205 million Yuan

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(Jun 26)

The launch of the Jigang Construction Investment Aerospace Industry Investment Fund will focus on key areas such as satellite manufacturing, remote sensing applications, and the low-altitude economy, accelerating the incubation of high-quality projects and providing a strong capital engine for Jinan's development of a national-level aerospace information industry cluster. The fund brings together municipal state-owned enterprises (Jigang Group and Ziyun Group) and central SOE capital (Jiantou Investment),

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(Aug 28) I also note their involvement in satellite manufacturing (I'm not quite sure who they're collaborating with or what are, but so far they seem to make components for satellite manufacturers such as CAS's AIR

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- JUL 13 2024 -)

In the satellite assembly workshop of Jigang Group in Jinan, Shandong, production line equipment is being installed and debugged. This workshop is a specialized assembly, integration, and testing facility specifically designed for small and medium-sized commercial satellites. From core component integration to full satellite functional debugging and harsh environmental adaptability testing, the entire process is standardized and digitized. In the future, this facility will have the capacity to manufacture and test 100 500-kilogram satellites annually, supporting the networking and replenishment of commercial satellite constellations. Jigang Group has also transformed from a traditional steel company with over 60 years of history into a leading player in the local aerospace information industry chain.
(

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Talking about Yilong Aerospace, which are IMO one of the most intriguing of the "minor" aspiring chinese LSP - especially since they received a staggering 5 billion Yuan investment plan from municipal/provincial source in Chizhou, Anhui in April 2024 (

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) - (they also raised 100M yuan last month

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) ,

they do sometime give signs of life, and today they announced an agreement with Shanghai Tuopu CNC Technology Co., Ltd. (Tuopu) for the construction of a 5m diameter propellant tanks production line. For reference Tuopu also has a similar agreement with iSpace (Interstellar Glory) and they jointly make the 4.2m tanks for the Hyperbola-3 (

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from Jan 2024)

In other news, it is said a Long March 5/5B may launch toward the end of september, which would be a record turnaround, IMO it's most likely a normal 5 with maybe a DFH-5 satellite since one was seen in transportation recently.