In May 2025, China launched First batch of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered satellites aboard a Long March 2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre to build World’s 1st Supercomputer in Orbit
- These satellites are part of the ‘Three-Body Computing Constellation’, a network designed to match and potentially surpass, the capabilities of the world’s most powerful supercomputers in orbit.
- Batch contains 12 satellites and all are equipped with AI-powered computing systems and high-speed laser communication links, which enables them to process data directly in space.
About Three-Body Computing Constellation:
i.The space supercomputer has been developed by Chinese start-up ADA Space in collaboration with Zhejiang Lab and the Neijiang High-Tech Zone.
- On successful completion of the constellation in space, the system aims to achieve total computing capacity of 1,000 Peta Operations per Second (POPS), equivalent to 1 quintillion operations per second.
Note: At present, El Captain Supercomputer based at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, the United States of America (USA), is considered one of the world’s most powerful supercomputer, which has capacity to process over 1.72 POPS.
ii.Each satellite has the capacity to process maximum 744 Trillion Operations per Second (TOPS). Also, these satellites carry a space-based AI model with 8 billion parameters, capable of processing raw satellite directly in orbit.
iii.These newly launched satellites are interconnected through high-speed laser links capable of data transfer rates up to 100 gigabits per second, the initial network offers a combined computing power of 5 POPS and 30 terabytes of on-board storage.
iv.Chengdu (China)-based Guoxing Aerospace, an AI satellite developer, was mainly responsible for developing the intelligent satellite platforms and monitoring satellite assembly.
- While, HiStarlink, a start-up that has specialization in laser communications, developed the high-speed optical terminals that enables data transfers between satellites in the network.
China’s LandSpace Developed Enhanced Zhuque-2 Rocket Launched 6 Satellites into Orbit
In May 2025, Zhuque-2E Y2, a new methane-powered rocket developed by Beijing (China)-based LandSpace Technology Corporation Limited has successfully launched 6 satellites into orbit. This marks the 5th launch of its Zhuque-2 series methane-fueled rocket.
- Also, this marks the 27th orbital launch of the year for China.
- These satellites were lifted off from a dedicated pad at Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Area at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China.
Note: In July 2023, LandSpace became the world’s 1st company to launch a methane-liquid oxygen rocket, ahead of United States of America (USA) rivals including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
About 6 Satellites:
i.These newly launched satellites were mainly developed by Changsha (China)-based Spacety, also known as Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute.
ii.The rocket carrier included a radar satellite named ‘Tianyi-42’ will be used for commercial C-band synthetic aperture radar imagery.
- 2 multispectral satellites, Tianyi-29 and Tianyi-35 will be used for optical remote sensing. Both these satellites will help in environmental monitoring and identifying mineral deposits.
- 3 research-focused satellites namely, Tianyi-34, Tianyi-45 and Tianyi-46 will be used for scientific experiments and will help with China’s deep-space exploration ambitions, weighing between 20 kilogram (kg) and 300 kg.
iii.Tiany-45 satellite uses argon ion thrusters and will be used for active deorbit control at the end of mission.
- While, Tianyi-45 is equipped with separate gamma-ray burst and X-ray polarization detector payloads, and a camera which is specifically used to observe aurora.
Key Points:
i.The latest version of Zhuque-2 series includes technical improvements that will help the LandSpace in achieving its goal of launching reusable rocket.
ii.This was the 2nd flight of enhanced Zhuque-2 (Vermillion Bird-2), or Zhuque-2E, which has the capacity to carry payload of 4,000 kg to a 500 kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
iii.Zhuque-2E is equipped with upgraded Tianque-12A engines, while 2nd stage included Tianque-15A engine used a niobium-tungsten alloy extended nozzle.
iv.Also, for the 1st time quasi-real-time wind correction trajectory design technology is used in the mission and it is claimed to be developed domestically.
About LandSpace Technology Corporation Limited:
Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Zhang Changwu
Headquarters- Beijing, China
Founded- 2015
