China Launches Second Classified High Orbit Internet Satellite

China launched the second in a new series of geostationary communications satellites on a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) declared the launch a complete success though the purposes of these satellites remain unclear. A

CASC's statement revealed that the previously undisclosed payload for the launch was the High Orbit Internet Satellite-02 (Weixing Hulianwan Gaogui-02). This follows the launch of the first such satellite on February 29.

Both CASC and Chinese media reports have provided few details about the satellite and its uses. Developed by CASC's China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), no images of the satellite, nor any information about its platform, potential uses, or customers, have been disclosed.

China already operates a series of ChinaSat (Zhongxing) geostationary communications satellites. ChinaSat-26, China's first satellite providing more than 100 gigabits per second (Gbps), was launched in early 2023. Various ChinaSat satellites provide services for both civilian and military users.

In the future, China Satcom will promote the construction of satellites with larger, single-satellite capacity. It is expected that by the end of the '14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025); the total capacity of high-throughput communication satellites will exceed 500 Gbps. It is unclear if this report correlates with the new satellite series.

China plans to launch several low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite Internet constellations. These include the state-led Guowang and the Shanghai-backed G60 Starlink constellations. The new satellites could potentially be related to one of these projects.

In recent years, China has launched several satellite Internet test spacecraft into LEO. The first batches of satellites for the G60 constellation are expected to launch in August.

Thursday's launch marks China's 34th of 2024. CASC stated in February that it aimed to launch around 70 times this year, with commercial launch providers targeting roughly another 30 launches.

Missions this year include the successfully completed Chang'e-6 lunar far side sample return mission, crew and cargo missions to the Tiangong space station, a Sino-French space science satellite, LEO communications launches, and more. In May, China also launched its first pair of communications satellites into medium Earth orbit. These were developed by a CASC subsidiary.

The first launch from a new commercial spaceport near Wenchang is expected in the second half of the year. That launch could feature the new Long March 12 rocket. There will also be sea launches supported by facilities off Shandong province.