China launched a rocket deploying five experimental satellites of high speed network

China successfully launched a Long March 2D rocket on Thursday afternoon, placing five experimental satellites into orbit, on December 12, 2024, the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said.

The rocket lifted off at 3:17 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, the corporation said in a statement. It deployed the satellites, part of a high-speed laser technology demonstration network called the Diamond Constellation, into their designated orbits.

Developed by a company affiliated with the Harbin Institute of Technology in northeastern Heilongjiang province, the satellites will test advanced technologies, officials said.

A "high speed network of laser technology" refers to a communication system that utilizes laser beams to transmit data at extremely high speeds, offering significantly faster data transfer compared to traditional radio waves, often used in applications like satellite communication

The Long March 2D rocket, powered by liquid propellants with a liftoff thrust of 300 metric tons, is capable of delivering payloads of up to 1.3 tons into sun-synchronous orbits at an altitude of about 700 kilometers. It was designed and built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

On January 11, Changguang Satellite Technology Company used the self-developed "Jilin No. 1" platform 02A01 satellite and platform 02A02 satellite to carry out China's first inter-satellite laser 100Gbps ultra-high-speed high-resolution remote sensing image transmission test and success, the technology has reached the international advanced level.

On January 11, Changguang Satellite Technology Company used the self-developed "Jilin No. 1" platform 02A01 satellite and platform 02A02 satellite to carry out China's first inter-satellite laser 100Gbps ultra-high-speed high-resolution remote sensing image transmission test and success, the technology has reached the international advanced level.

On May 31, 2024, Galaxy Power Aerospace's Ceres-1 Yao-12 rocket was successfully launched at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, successfully launching five satellites including Aurora Constellation 01 and 02 satellites into orbit.

The Aurora Constellation 01 and 02 satellites focused on technical verification such as on-orbit calibration of inter-satellite laser communication payloads, rapid capture and chain building, autonomous avoidance of solar transit, autonomous recovery of broken links, and long-term chain building and maintenance, and completed the communication at a maximum rate of 2.5 Gbps from 300 km to 4000 km at different satellite spacings, so as to achieve high-speed and stable transmission of inter-satellite service data.

The laser communication payload configured on the 01 and 02 satellites of the Aurora constellation has achieved breakthroughs in a number of key technologies such as beaconless high-precision dynamic acquisition and aiming technology, on-orbit high-precision optical axis independent calibration technology, and optical mechatronics light, small and high-integration technology, which can effectively meet the needs of large-scale inter-satellite communication of the constellation.

The Aurora constellation 03 and 04 satellites will carry out communication tests above 100G, as well as tests across orbits and different orbital altitudes.

Thursday's launch marked China's 63rd space mission this year and the 551st flight of the Long March rocket series, the country's primary launch vehicle.

中国成功发射高速激光钻石星座试验系统

北京时间12月12日15时17分，中国在酒泉卫星发射中心使用长征二号丁运载火箭/远征三号上面级，成功将高速激光钻石星座试验系统发射升空，5颗卫星顺利进入预定轨道，发射任务获得圆满成功。 此次任务是长征系列运载火箭的第551次飞行。