Chinese researchers have proposed an ambitious plan for a shared satellite mega constellation designed to provide real-time services to people across the globe while preventing low Earth orbit from becoming dangerously crowded. Instead of multiple governments and private companies launching separate constellations, the team envisions a common infrastructure of around 48,000 AI-driven satellites coordinated through a shared orbital cloud system. According to researchers at China’s National University of Defence Technology, this configuration could deliver internet, communications, navigation, and other critical services to all eight billion people worldwide, using far fewer satellites than currently planned by individual projects.
The study, published in the latest issue of National Science Review, is led by Professor Yang Jun, a specialist in space instrumentation who has contributed extensively to China’s satellite navigation systems. He described the concept of an “open and shared sustainable mega constellation” (OSSMC) as addressing two key challenges simultaneously: reducing the sustainability risk of overcrowded orbits and promoting equitable access to space resources. Professor Yang emphasized that OSSMC offers a framework for shared space infrastructure, providing a “China solution” for building a cooperative international space ecosystem. Team member Ma Xiaotian, a PhD student, highlighted that more than a million satellites have already been filed for launch worldwide, including SpaceX’s Starlink, which targets up to 42,000 satellites.
The proposal relies on two main innovations: a hardware revolution and a service revolution. Traditional satellites often function independently for a single purpose, such as imaging, navigation, or communications. The Chinese team suggests designing satellites in modular components—sensors, networks, and AI processors—that can be combined and reconfigured like a computer. This modularity allows satellites to be multifunctional and interconnected, greatly reducing costs while increasing coverage. Tests conducted by the researchers indicated that such designs could enhance sensing coverage by 13 times compared to conventional satellites. The hardware approach is complemented by an orbital cloud model inspired by the internet, which pools satellite resources and allocates them intelligently based on user requests.
This orbital cloud system allows satellites to respond proactively to user needs, rather than waiting for incoming signals. Users could access services directly through devices on the ground, similar to hailing a ride through Uber or DiDi. Simulations show the model could achieve a 97 percent success rate for random tasks, significantly improving user experience. If implemented, these shifts could transform the satellite landscape, enabling satellites to operate like universal computers and provide space-based services on demand. The researchers highlight that OSSMC moves away from the traditional “one satellite, one function” approach, presenting a model for a more efficient, flexible, and cooperative use of orbital space while ensuring equitable service delivery for a growing global population.
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