18 satellites in one rocket successfully entered orbit, China's Starlink took 5
tech
Today, the official website of The Washington Post in the United States cited a photo from Xinhua News Agency, with the caption: "On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, an improved Long March 6 carrier rocket, carrying a group of new satellites, was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province, northern China. This rocket, carrying 18 satellites, is part of China's strategic plan to strengthen its space capabilities and compete with the United States."
The keen observation of the other party is noted; China's first batch of 18 constellation satellites ("G60 Starlink") have pierced the sky and successfully entered space, marking the beginning of the construction of the highly anticipated Chinese version of "Starlink." This is a key step for China's satellite internet in terms of commercialization and industrial layout.
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01
Why are near-Earth satellites so important for the "Thousand Sails" to set sail?
China's "Starlink" operator is Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. According to "Space News" from "Multiverse Media," a U.S. media outlet, Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. is committed to establishing a project similar to Musk's Starlink. This project plans to launch 1296 satellites into orbit in the first phase, with an expected launch of 648 satellites by the end of 2025 to form a regional network.
The company's plan for this year is to launch 108 satellites. In addition to the 18 launched this time, the remaining 90 satellites will be launched in two batches, one with 36 satellites and the other with 54 satellites.
Going back to 2015, Musk announced an investment of 10 billion U.S. dollars to build a "Starlink" constellation consisting of 4425 satellites. In just a few years, there are currently 5978 satellites in orbit, with a projection to deploy 7518 satellites by 2027, and a reserve of 30,000 satellites, totaling more than 42,000 satellites to be launched.
Compared to the U.S. "Starlink" plan, China is not actually lagging behind. The "Thousand Sails Constellation" (also known as the G60 Starlink Project) signifies that the Chinese version of "Starlink" is about to shine in the starry sky. According to the plan, it is expected to complete the launch of 108 satellites this year, achieve regional network coverage with 648 satellites by the end of 2025, and then provide global network coverage by 2027. Ultimately, by 2030, it aims to provide integrated services such as mobile direct connection with 15,000 satellites.
Currently, China has planned three "10,000-star constellations," in addition to the "Thousand Sails Constellation." There is also the GW constellation from China Star Network Company, which includes the GW-A59 and GW-22 sub-constellations. It is expected that GW-A59 will launch 6080 satellites, and GW-2 will launch 6912 satellites, totaling 12,992 satellites. Hongqiang Technology, a subsidiary of Blue Arrow Aerospace, has submitted pre-launch information for the Honghu-3 constellation plan to the International Telecommunication Union, which will launch a total of 10,000 satellites on 160 orbital planes. This means that in low Earth orbit satellite plans, our follow-up strength will far exceed everyone's imagination, but at the same time, it is also a challenge because submitting an application is not a one-time effort. According to the regulations of the International Telecommunication Union, if the launch is not completed within the specified time, it will be considered as giving up the right to use the orbit.Certainly, we cannot simply focus on quantity over quality. Taking Starlink as a comparison, first and foremost, the Qianfan constellation has a clear advantage in speed. According to design specifications, when transmitting data in uninhabited areas, the peak connection speed of the Qianfan constellation can reach 600Mbps, which is twice as fast as Starlink's 299Mbps. This not only implies a faster internet experience but also provides efficient network services in a wider range of scenarios.
Secondly, in terms of usage scenarios, the Qianfan constellation is also more convenient and intelligent. Based on a networking patent, our low Earth orbit satellites can automatically form a network with ground base stations, as simple and convenient as our current WiFi internet access. In contrast, Starlink adopts a signal relay method in the sky, requiring specialized equipment on the ground to receive signals. Therefore, Starlink users also need to purchase a reception device costing over 500 US dollars to convert the signal into a WiFi signal before use, making the cost and complexity of use significantly higher.
02
Infinite Satellites, Limited Space Resources
Although the idea of launching tens of thousands of satellites sounds very impressive, just like cars driving on the road, the road's carrying capacity is always limited, and the same applies to space. Most communication satellites operate in low Earth orbits (LEO) at altitudes not exceeding 2000 kilometers.
It is estimated that the low Earth orbit can accommodate a total of about 60,000 satellites. According to the regulations of the International Telecommunication Union, the use of satellite frequencies and orbital slots is governed by the "first come, first served" principle. The available space in low orbit slots is limited. If the Starlink project launches 42,000 satellites as planned, it will account for more than 80%. SpaceX's ambition to seize development opportunities and monopolize strategic resources by staking claims in space is already well-known. Therefore, countries and regions are accelerating the launch and networking of low Earth orbit satellites, and a new round of "space parking space grabbing" is underway.
We know that the Beidou global navigation system only plans for 62 satellites, so why do Starlink, Qianfan constellation, and others require such a large number of satellites? This is because it requires less energy to send satellites into low Earth orbit, compared to high orbits, the signal transmission delay is smaller, the attenuation is less, and the power of the amplifier required for successful satellite transmission is also smaller. It is currently the most suitable orbital range for implementing communication, navigation, observation, and other functions, in layman's terms, it is "cost-effective."The downsides of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites are also quite apparent—LEO satellites have a very limited instantaneous field of view, allowing them to observe and communicate with only a small part of the Earth at a time. This means that a "constellation" composed of multiple satellites is required to provide continuous coverage. At the same time, the orbital decay rate of LEO satellites is quite fast, necessitating periodic orbit-raising maneuvers to maintain their positions. Their designed lifespan of about 5 years also increases the frequency of satellite replacement.
03
Risks and Opportunities in a Crowded Race
Currently, there are approximately 7,500 satellites operating in low Earth orbit, although this is still some distance from the theoretical limit of 60,000. However, based on the launch plans of various countries, we are expected to witness a large wave of LEO satellite launches in the next five years. What risks does a crowded low Earth orbit pose?
Firstly, there is the issue of light pollution. As satellite constellations enter Earth's orbit, they may generate a significant amount of reflected light signals, leading to "light pollution." While Starlink satellites may appear dim to the human eye, they are very "bright" to astronomical telescopes equipped with highly sensitive detectors. This can easily result in detectors being damaged by the reflected light from satellites.
Moreover, it's not just ground-based observations that are affected; even space telescopes in low Earth orbit can be impacted. The light pollution caused by these satellites can lead to erroneous observational data and may even cause us to miss astronomical phenomena that occur once in a millennium or even ten thousand years. In addition, the communication frequencies of Starlink could congest the frequencies used by radio telescopes, preventing them from receiving signals at specific frequencies...
Secondly, there is the risk of collision. These small satellites, once they become defunct, turn into space debris floating in orbit. They not only occupy valuable orbital resources but also pose a threat to other satellites in orbit and future space activities. With the planned increase in the number of satellites being launched, even a small failure rate can result in a significant amount of space debris. As early as 2021, Starlink satellites had twice changed their orbits and approached China's space station, posing a danger to the safety of the astronauts on board. Out of safety considerations, the Chinese space station complex had to perform "emergency avoidance maneuvers" twice.
Of course, despite the many visible negative impacts, LEO satellites remain a major focus in the development of the international space sector. This is not only because of their profound impact on the communications industry but also because they are key to areas such as launch vehicles and satellite manufacturing. So, what exactly are the pioneering roles they can play in pioneering industry ecosystems?Low Earth Orbit Satellite Networks Ignite a Space Gold Rush
E-commerce can penetrate the globe like capillaries, thanks to the rapid and low-cost transportation and logistics; similarly, the launch of a vast number of satellites cannot be separated from the reduction in the manufacturing and launch costs of rockets, and commercialization is the best "propellant" for cost reduction.
Elon Musk himself may not have anticipated that a successful rocket recovery nine years ago would set off wave after wave of pursuit on the other side of the ocean. In December 2015, the Falcon 9 rocket of SpaceX, a private American rocket manufacturing company, successfully entered space along its predetermined trajectory, and its first-stage booster returned to the ground and landed upright—this was the first time in human history that the land recovery of the most expensive first-stage rocket in the launch of a carrier rocket was achieved.
This "catfish" of SpaceX not only stimulates the development of private space enterprises in the United States but also prompts the Chinese space industry to start paying attention to commercialization in the industry during the same period.
In the past perception, the space industry often requires large investments and long durations, and only the strength of a nation can maintain it. Unlike the United States, which began legislating to encourage commercial space activities in the 1980s, China's space industry has been dominated by the "national team," that is, various research institutes and military industry central enterprises, since its inception in 1956. Private enterprises lacked both technical reserves and channels to enter the industry chain. It was not until around 2015 that relevant policies in China began to sprout, and Chinese commercial space finally began to emerge.
At the end of 2014, the State Council issued the "Guiding Opinions on Innovating the Investment and Financing Mechanism in Key Areas to Encourage Social Investment," encouraging private capital to develop, launch, and operate commercial remote sensing satellites.
The previous text has in-depth interpreted the current situation of the competition for space channel resources, the core of which is "first come, first served," with tight time and heavy tasks; on the other hand, there is an increasing demand for applications such as navigation and mapping, which all put higher demands on the launch capability and density of rockets, as well as the manufacturing, maintenance, and recovery of satellites. The participation of private enterprises has become inevitable.
The support from the national policy level, coupled with the demonstration and incentive of SpaceX, has led a group of pioneers who originally belonged to the "system" to turn to the sea.Established in 2016, the private rocket company Beijing Interstellar Glory is a prime example. In April 2018, at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, the first truly private rocket in China, the "Hyperbola-1S," soared into the sky with a flight speed exceeding 1200 meters per second and a maximum flight altitude breaking through 100 kilometers. This 8.4-meter-long, 4.6-ton single-stage solid rocket is the precursor verification model of the first solid launch vehicle "Hyperbola-1" developed by Interstellar Glory.
Most of the founding team of Interstellar Glory comes from the "national team," with several individuals having served as the overall commander, chief designer, deputy chief designer, director, deputy director, and project office director of manned spaceflight and lunar exploration projects in China. Key figures Yao Bowen and Peng Xiaobo are also technically oriented, both hailing from the Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's First Academy.
The influx of such talents has ensured the growth and development of private rocket enterprises. In 2019, the small solid launch vehicle designed by Interstellar Glory successfully entered orbit, placing two satellites into orbit, marking China as the second country in the world with the capability for private space satellite launches.
However, technology alone is not sufficient. The experience of SpaceX tells us that the success of commercial space endeavors cannot be separated from government funding, policy inclination, industry chain support, and most importantly, commercial orders—Without NASA's order support, SpaceX's counterattack story would not have progressed so smoothly. Dong Yi, the sales director of Shandong Zhongke Satellite Industry, also believes that the tens of thousands of satellites brought by China's Star Network, "how many can be allocated to private rocket enterprises, is currently the focus of the industry."
It is worth noting that the "national team" has not been idle either. Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) had already established two subsidiaries in 2016, offering "Kuaizhou" and "Jielong" series rockets with multiple satellite launch capabilities for commercial launches. This means that private enterprises must not only catch up in launch capacity and reduce costs in manufacturing processes but also achieve stable rocket launch and orbit insertion results to be eligible to win orders.
05
Commercial Rockets Chasing SpaceX
Last year was a noteworthy "turning point" for China's commercial space industry, as private enterprises began to make concentrated appearances in the fields of satellite manufacturing and rocket launches.
In April 2023, the "Tianlong-2" liquid oxygen kerosene rocket developed by Tianbing Technology successfully completed its maiden flight, marking it as the world's first liquid oxygen kerosene rocket to succeed on its first flight. In June, the "Lijian-1" carrier rocket, co-developed by CASC, was successfully launched, adopting a "one rocket with 26 satellites" approach, breaking China's record for "one rocket, multiple satellites," with a significant enhancement in launch capacity. In July, the "Zhuque-2" carrier rocket, independently developed by Blue Arrow Aerospace, was successfully launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, becoming the world's first liquid oxygen methane rocket to successfully enter orbit. It is also one of the few private enterprises in China to independently develop liquid engines, filling the technological gap in China's liquid oxygen methane rockets...The performance of a product is crucial for the acquisition of commercial orders by a company. According to data from Huatai Securities, from 2015 to 2021, China conducted a total of 84 commercial launch missions, with the "national team" accounting for 77 launches, which is over 90% of the total. In 2023, there is a significant change in the situation, with 13 out of 25 commercial launch missions undertaken by private enterprises.
Regarding the choice of propellant for launch vehicles, we have introduced it several times in our previous articles. The reason why liquid oxygen methane can "defeat" liquid oxygen kerosene and liquid oxygen hydrogen to become the most favored technological route by leading private enterprises is precisely because of its compatibility with reusable rockets.
Dai Zheng, General Manager of the Rocket R&D Department at Blue Arrow Aerospace, once introduced that kerosene is a room-temperature propellant, easy to store and safe. The specific impulse of liquid oxygen kerosene can reach about 377 seconds, making it the best choice for disposable rockets; liquid oxygen hydrogen has a particularly high theoretical specific impulse, which can exceed 460 seconds, but it needs to be stored at low temperatures and is prone to leaks, posing a significant risk when used. Specific impulse is an important parameter of rocket propulsion, and the specific impulse value is generally proportional to the engine's performance.
"Liquid oxygen methane" actually has an awkward position between the two: although its theoretical specific impulse can reach 390 seconds, slightly higher than liquid oxygen kerosene, it also needs to be stored at low temperatures, and the difficulty of transportation and storage is not much less than that of liquid oxygen hydrogen. Fortunately, commercial spaceflight not only needs to consider the performance and safety of the propellant but also the cost, economic, and profitability considerations are equally important.
The Merlin engine of the Falcon 9 uses liquid oxygen kerosene, and it has been found during the process of reuse that kerosene combustion produces carbon deposits, which affect the number of times the engine can be reused. Regardless of whether it is kerosene or hydrogen, the requirements for production and costs are very high; methane combustion does not produce carbon deposits, and the engine does not need to be cleaned at all, and methane supply is abundant, with a large volume and favorable price, and the requirements for the engine are also similar to those of hydrogen. The consensus among many industry insiders is that the choice of commercial rocket propellant will be narrowed down to liquid oxygen methane within five years.
Despite the rapid progress of commercial rockets, we must also face the gap between China and the United States. Limited launch capacity and high costs are industry realities that cannot be avoided.
"If we follow SpaceX's three-step strategy, we are currently at the early stage of the second step," said an industry insider. Most of the private rocket companies are still producing disposable small rockets, and there are "few that have developed their own engines," and many need to be purchased from state-owned enterprises. SpaceX's "three-step" strategy refers to the transition from disposable small rockets to partially reusable medium and large rockets, and then to super large fully reusable rockets.To bridge the technological gap, private enterprises are still confronted with many practical issues, such as the shortage of launch slots. Dong Yi informed the reporter that in recent years, domestic space launch missions have been very saturated, with the three major launch sites operating at full capacity. Fortunately, small solid rockets like the "Kuaizhou Rocket" have low requirements for launch sites; a regular cement factory yard will suffice, or medium-liquid rockets like the "Tianlong II" can be launched from a mobile launch vehicle, eliminating the need for massive launch towers and sites. However, for large rockets, a fixed launch tower is a necessity.
At present, apart from Blue Arrow Aerospace, no other private enterprise in China has an independent launch pad. However, it is understood that some leading companies have been approved to construct their own independent pads. In addition, China's first commercial space launch site, "Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site," has already become operational, which will further alleviate the launch pressure on private enterprises.
06
Satellite Manufacturing on a Large Scale
During the interview process, it was a consensus among industry insiders that the threshold for satellite construction is actually much lower than that for rockets. The most critical issues remain mass production, cost reduction, and the application of new technologies.
The traditional satellite manufacturing industry advocates "quality over speed," focusing on customization. Therefore, it usually takes a year for a satellite to go from the initial assembly to the factory exit. If it is a customized geostationary communication satellite, the production cycle can even span several years, mainly relying on the "national team." The long research and development period, high production costs, weak mass production capabilities make it impossible to compete with SpaceX, which can produce 60 satellites a month.
Mass production requires demand-side support, and private enterprises want to seize the incremental market while also focusing on cost reduction. The leading private satellite manufacturing company, Galaxy Aerospace, has tried to replace space-grade products with civilian industrial-grade products to reduce satellite manufacturing costs.
Furthermore, by designing low-cost satellites for mass production, combined with flexible manufacturing, and leveraging the advantages of China's industrial system, the goal is to reduce satellite costs to a fraction of the current level. Dong Yi stated that the current costs are mostly in the launch, and what satellite manufacturing can do is to make satellites thinner and change their design, "such as Galaxy Aerospace's flexible solar panel flat satellites; of course, the best breakthrough would be in reusable rockets."In terms of technology, the most pressing issue that needs to be addressed both domestically and globally is the inter-satellite link problem, which is closely related to our terrestrial applications as well.
The commonly mentioned phrase "punching through the sky" with mobile phones requires overcoming numerous technical challenges, such as latency. Ground-based signal towers are stationary, but satellites, acting as signal towers, move at speeds of tens of thousands of kilometers per hour relative to ground users. This necessitates seamless switching between satellites, but factors such as Doppler shift hinder this switching, leading to communication delays.
Moreover, the antenna gain and transmission power of mobile phones are inherently low, making it difficult for them to connect with satellites hundreds of kilometers away. Solutions can include changing mobile phone components and customizing chips, as well as equipping satellites with new custom silicon chips, phased array antennas, and advanced software algorithms to overcome these issues.
Whether it's cost reduction or technological upgrades, the goal of improving communication quality is to make satellite communication accessible to the general public. In fact, on the application level, the capabilities of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites extend far beyond this.
07
Linking satellites into a chain, the era of integrated space-ground communication begins
Tens of thousands of LEO satellites not only construct the new generation of communication networks for various countries but also signal the start of the global satellite internet industry competition. From internet communication to navigation, what kind of new experiences will the public enjoy in the era of integrated space-ground communication?
Currently, the issue of uneven global internet coverage remains severe, especially in underdeveloped and remote areas. According to a report by the BBVA Microfinance Foundation, approximately 2.7 billion people worldwide still lack internet access, accounting for one-third of the global population, and over 70% of the world's geographical space is not covered by the internet.
Against this backdrop, building satellite internet is an important means to address the digital divide for the "unconnected" population on Earth. Satellite internet is an internet based on satellite communication, primarily formed by a certain number of satellites to create a scaled network that radiates globally. LEO satellites, due to their advantages of low orbit, small weight, low launch costs, and strong anti-jamming capabilities, have become one of the best choices for satellite internet.Compared to traditional terrestrial communication networks, satellite constellations have an extremely broad coverage. Only three geostationary satellites are needed in geostationary orbit to cover the entire globe, six to seven medium-Earth-orbit satellites are required, and only a few hundred low-Earth-orbit satellites are needed. Moreover, satellite low-Earth-orbit constellation systems have a large capacity. According to Space & Network, Starlink plans for a single satellite user-side link rate to reach 17-23Gbps. For the first phase with 1584 satellites in orbit, the average network capacity can reach 2.17Tbps, equivalent to 2170 terrestrial 5G base stations.
Direct mobile phone connection to satellites, 5G NTN becomes a standard configuration.
In contrast to intangible networks, the impact of low-Earth-orbit satellites on the general public is mainly reflected in mobile communication terminals represented by mobile phones.
Currently, several leading consumer electronics brands have begun to support satellite communication functions. For Huawei, starting from the Mate 50 series, the "Beidou satellite communication technology" can be equipped to realize satellite short message functions. Just one year later, in September 2023, the P60 series released can already make calls without a ground network through the TianTong-1 satellite mobile communication system. For Apple, satellite communication functions are also available on the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15, or iPhone 15 Pro to enable emergency communication without cellular and local area networks. Benefiting from the maturity of direct connection functions and the "follow-on effect" among different consumer electronics brands, more brands will carry satellite communication functions in the future to cope with extreme emergency scenarios.
It should be noted that whether it is Huawei Mate 60 Pro (5G + TianTong voice + SMS) or Apple iPhone 14 (5G + Globalstar short message), their technical routes belong to dedicated chips and system communication, mainly for customized mobile phone direct connection to satellites, as a supplementary communication outside the cellular network, which has a high application value in emergency scenarios. With the development of satellite internet technology, 5G NTN is becoming the new generation of integrated satellite and terrestrial communication technology.
5G NTN achieves this by "moving the base station to the sky," performing demodulation/decoding, encoding/modulation, etc., on the satellite, completing all or part of the base station functions, and then accessing the 5G core network through the NTN gateway. It can realize the transition of 5G from the ground to space and the compatibility of satellite communication with terrestrial communication systems.
Tips: What is a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN)?
A Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) is a new type of radio (NR) interface technology for direct communication between terminals and satellites, developed based on 3GPP R17. It is also an important supplement to terrestrial cellular communication technology. By integrating satellite communication networks with terrestrial 5G networks, NTN can provide ubiquitous coverage without the limitations of terrain and topography, connecting the sky, land, and sea, forming an integrated ubiquitous access network, and achieving on-demand access in all scenarios.Of course, although 5G NTN technology has many advantages, it also faces some challenges. In addition to the high initial deployment costs, 5G NTN technology finds it difficult to match the reliability of traditional terrestrial networks. Since the network operates wirelessly from high altitudes, it is susceptible to interference from terrain, weather, and other factors that could disrupt wireless networks, meaning that 5G NTN networks may not be able to provide connections in harsh environments.
Furthermore, while China has a significant advantage in the number of large and medium-sized remote sensing satellites and navigation satellites, there is still a relatively small layout in low Earth orbit communication satellites. This is mainly because China's terrestrial network deployment is already very mature. China has a relatively high population density, and under the condition that the geographical area radiated by a single base station is certain, the number of people covered compared to other countries will be more.
Therefore, for operators, the construction of a single base station has a higher cost-performance ratio compared to overseas areas with relatively lower population density. For domestic consumers, the fees of terrestrial operators are also lower than satellite communication fees. Taking the TianTong No.1 mobile phone direct satellite service package launched by China Telecom as an example, users can add direct satellite services to the basis of ordinary mobile phone card packages, among which the satellite communication function fee is 10 yuan per month; domestic (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) call standard fee is 9 yuan per minute for both the caller and the callee; sending a text message is 5 yuan per piece, and receiving is free. The standard fee for calls by terrestrial operators is about 0.151 yuan per minute; the text message is about 0.1 yuan per piece.
09
Smart Cars Also Need to "Pierce the Sky"
In addition to mobile terminals, smart cars are also an important application field for low Earth orbit satellites. Car companies, due to navigation factors, have been laying out in the field of low Earth orbit satellites for many years.
"Car direct connection to satellites" is to use satellites as communication base stations, enabling cars to establish direct communication network connections with satellites without the need to go through ground base stations and satellite earth stations. In this way, even in places where ground mobile networks and fixed networks are not covered, cars can provide reliable two-way voice calls and two-way text message communication services.
From a global perspective, SpaceX plans to enable direct satellite connection for Tesla cars through the Starlink software developer Julien Villa-Massone, and it is expected that by the end of 2024, all Tesla cars equipped with 4G will have basic direct satellite services. BYD, in cooperation with China Telecom in April this year, launched the world's first car equipped with TianTong satellite communication function - the Yangwang U8 off-road player version. The satellite communication system of this car is based on China's independently developed "TianTong No.1" satellite mobile communication system, providing more complete in-vehicle communication methods. Xiaomi cars have also demonstrated their depth and breadth in this field, and through patent technology development and application, they can intelligently adjust the in-vehicle satellite antenna according to the current position of the car and the position of the searched satellite.
Before the realization of "car direct connection to satellites," satellite communication technology has long become a new focus for car companies to lay out.As an important direction for Geely's layout in automotive intelligent innovation, the Geely Future Mobility Constellation is expected to play a significant role. To this end, Geely has specifically established a company responsible for satellite communication technology: Spacetime Daoyu.
With the technology of the Geely Future Mobility Constellation, vehicles can achieve instantaneous "centimeter-level" high-precision positioning, enabling precise route planning and subsequently facilitating applications such as vehicle cloud management, vehicle-road coordination, intelligent driving, and automatic parking. For instance, through constellation technology, advanced intelligent driving assistance systems can help car owners obtain real-time high-precision positioning and more accurate road features, thereby achieving a better driving experience.
Compared to satellite calls on mobile phones, the demand for vehicle satellite services seems more down-to-earth. In addition to higher-precision intelligent driving assistance, satellite communication can provide continuous communication connections for long-haul trucks, track vehicle location, status, and transportation progress in real-time, enhancing operational efficiency and safety. In remote or disaster-stricken areas where traditional communication networks cannot reach, satellite communication can ensure smooth communication between emergency rescue vehicles, police cars, and fire trucks, providing real-time data and voice connections to help rescue personnel obtain necessary information and instructions promptly.
For off-road vehicles traveling to areas with poor signals or uninhabited zones, precise navigation or access to map data is impossible, and in case of an emergency, it is even more challenging to call for help. Through satellite communication technology, users can send text messages to any mobile phone contact through the vehicle's system, share their location, or send distress messages, and at the same time, send information about the surrounding environment where the vehicle is stranded.
Overall, as the satellite network continues to improve, satellite communication has become a technological breakthrough direction for the future across various industries, including automotive, bringing the public closer to the dream of "reaching for the stars."