China’s Guowang launch raises questions about satellite purpose and transparency
“The size and mass of the satellites is unknown. This is in contrast to the Thousand Sails (Qianfan, also formerly known as G60 Starlink) constellation, which has revealed images of some of its flat-panel satellites produced by Genesat.”
“However, filings with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2020 for Guowang detail plans for 13,000 satellites. Thousand Sails satellites are likewise operating at similar altitudes, with that constellation to comprise around 14,000 satellites when completed.
“The lack of transparency could also have consequences for the issue of space traffic management. With Starlink, Guowang and Thousand Sails constellations being deployed, the need for a level of coordination and communication is growing.”
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