Space research Chinese satellites now fly autonomously

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China has launched its first two satellites into space that can navigate autonomously. The surveying and mapping satellites maintain or correct their trajectory independently, eliminating the need for constant contact with a ground station.

Henrik Bork, a long-standing China correspondent for the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Frankfurter Rundschau, is Managing Director at Asia Waypoint, a consultancy specializing in China based in Beijing.

The satellite pair "Siwei Gaojing-2 03" and "Siwei Gaojing-2 04" was launched into space aboard a "Long March-2C" rocket from the Chinese Jiuquan space center on November 25 at 7:39 local time, reports the official news agency Xinhua. Due to the autonomous control, it can be described as a "milestone" that heralds a "new era of self-driving commercial satellites," writes the Shanghai Academy of Space Flight Technology (SAST), responsible for the project, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

Satellites also land safely autonomously

The two satellites are also prepared to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere completely autonomously and land safely at the end of their mission, explains SAST. Such a landing has not yet occurred anywhere in the world, according to the Chinese Academy of Space Technology.

• They are equipped with high-resolution microwave radar, which allows for the collection of surveying and mapping data.

• With this technology, a form of synthetic aperture radar (SAR), microwaves are sent to Earth from a low orbit.

• Then the time it takes for them to return is measured.

Suitable for disaster prevention and early warning systems

Unlike optical signals, SAR satellites can penetrate cloud cover or fog, making them particularly suitable for disaster prevention and early warning systems.

In various countries, SAR satellites are already used for earthquake and flood forecasting, oil spill responses, and military purposes. The responsible research institution in Shanghai also mentions further possible uses of their satellites for official land surveying, natural resource management, traffic safety, "maritime affairs," environmental protection, and increasing agricultural production.

Increasing commercial demand

There is a significant commercial demand for such high-precision "all-weather data" with high resolution in several industries in the People's Republic, according to Chinese trade media. The two recently launched autonomously controlled satellites will become part of a new network called "China Siwei" consisting of "at least 28" different satellites, reports the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

In the network, optical satellites of various types already in orbit, including those for wide-angle images, will collaborate with the newly added SAR satellites. "A new era of autonomous operation of commercial satellites has begun," comments the Beijing daily Xinjing Bao.

China promotes science & technology

The Chinese leadership in Beijing is increasingly relying on science and technology to find new growth drivers for their economy. "New, high-quality productive forces" are to be promoted, as stated in somewhat old-fashioned party jargon. However, the targeted areas are anything but outdated: these include, among others, space travel, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and robotics.

Automation of production

Humanoid robots load driverless transporters

The provision of more accurate surveying data from space is a typical example of this strategy, with which China aims to promote the emergence of new industries through "groundbreaking innovations" and accelerate the modernization of its manufacturing industry.

Data also usable for military purposes

Since such data can be used not only commercially but also militarily, the expansion of China's satellite networks is viewed with much suspicion, particularly in the United States. "In particular, China has more than 470 surveillance satellites that support a robust sensor-shooter-kill network," quotes the SCMP, citing U.S. General Bradley C. Saltzman from his speech at a security conference. However, according to estimates, the U.S. currently has twelve times as many satellites in operation as China, and an unknown number of these are also military surveillance satellites.