Starlink Challenged: China's 200,000 Satellite Constellation Plan Unveiled

The sky isn't as big as it used to be. China has just raised the stakes in the new space race, filing plans to launch more than 200,000 satellites. This massive move comes just as Beijing accused Elon Musk’sSpaceX of hogging shared orbital resources.

Inside China's 200,000 Satellite Constellation Plan: CTC-1 & CTC-2

According to reports from the South China Morning Post, Chinese firms filed submissions with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at the end of last month. The most ambitious projects, CTC-1 and CTC-2, account for 96,714 satellites each.

The entity behind these filings, the newly established Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilisation and Technological Innovation, was registered in Hebei province on December 30—the very day after the submissions were made. It's a clear signal that Beijing is accelerating its efforts to secure its spot in low Earth orbit.

SpaceX Responds with FCC Approval for 7,500 More Satellites

While China plans for the future, SpaceX is already solidifying its lead. On Friday, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the launch of 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites. These must be in orbit by 2031, bringing the total SpaceX fleet to 15,000 units.