China’s space activity has seen significant growth and diversification over the past few decades, establishing itself as a leading player in space exploration and satellite operations. Bryce recently published an infographic that provides a snapshot of China’s space accomplishments up to 2024, including satellite deployments, civil exploration missions, commercial industry statistics, and launch capabilities. This article breaks down the key elements of this data, shedding light on China’s space achievements and ambitions.

Spacecraft Launched by China

As of January 1, 2024, China has a total of 800 operational satellites. These satellites are deployed across various orbits and serve a wide array of functions.

Breakdown of Satellite Types

• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites: 672 satellites are operating in LEO, with the majority (68%) focused on communications. Other notable uses include scientific research (21%) and other applications (11%).
• Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Satellites: 31 satellites occupy MEO, with these primarily dedicated to positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, likely part of the Beidou system.
• Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) Satellites: 91 satellites in GEO serve diverse purposes, including Earth observation (23%), communications (48%), and PNT services (14%).

Civil Space Exploration Missions

China’s civil space exploration endeavors include high-profile missions to both the Moon and Mars:

• Mars Missions: China has completed one Mars mission, a significant milestone in planetary exploration.
• Lunar Missions: Five lunar missions have been undertaken, encompassing both landers and orbiters. The Chang’e Lunar Exploration Program, with both robotic and crewed elements, has played a pivotal role in these efforts.

Satellite Capabilities

China’s current satellite capabilities span across multiple domains:

• Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT): With accuracy levels reaching 10 meters globally and 5 meters in the Asia-Pacific region, China’s Beidou navigation system is central to their PNT services. Over 150 Beidou reference stations bolster this system’s reliability.
• Satellite Remote Sensing: China’s satellites can achieve a spatial resolution of 20 to 30 centimeters, providing highly detailed Earth observation data.
• Satellite Telecommunications: There are 95 telecommunications satellites in service, with 51 in LEO and 44 in GEO, supporting global communication networks.

Ground Assets

China has also established a robust network of ground assets:

• SSA/Missile Warning: Four large phased array radars are in place for space situational awareness (SSA) and missile warning.
• Remote Sensing: Five ground stations monitor and control the data downlink from remote sensing satellites.
• Radio Telescope: China boasts the world’s largest single-aperture radio telescope, with an impressive 500-meter diameter, which is open to international researchers for various scientific applications.

Orbital Launch Sites

China operates a network of spaceports across the country, with launch activity centralized at four main satellite launch centers:

• Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center: With 193 orbital launches from 2000 to 2023, this spaceport is among the most active in China’s space infrastructure.
• Xichang Satellite Launch Center: Having conducted 172 orbital launches, this center supports China’s growing ambitions in space.
• Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center: Known for its role in remote sensing missions, Taiyuan has seen 113 orbital launches.
• Wenchang Satellite Launch Center: This newer launch center, located in Hainan, has hosted 25 launches, largely for heavier payloads and crewed missions.
• Sea Launch Platforms: China’s innovative sea launch platforms have facilitated seven launches, an indication of China’s flexibility in space access.

Commercial Industry Statistics

China’s space sector has attracted a diverse array of commercial startups, spanning various categories. The data from 2014 to 2023 shows that:

• 54 Space Startups have emerged during this period, categorized primarily into satellite operations, satellite manufacturing, launch services, and in-space services. Satellite manufacturing constitutes the largest category at 30%, followed by satellite operations at 28%.
• Investment: Space startups in China have garnered significant financial backing, with $3.3 billion invested from 2014 to 2023. Launch received the majority (59%) of this investment, followed by satellite operations (24%) and satellite manufacturing (15%).

2023 Satellite Deployments

China’s satellite deployments in 2023 demonstrate the country’s sustained growth in space:

• Total Deployments: A total of 212 spacecraft were launched.
• By Mission Types: The majority (66%) of these were for Earth observation purposes, followed by technology demonstration (19%), communications (12%), and military applications (18%).
• By Service Type: Satellites serving commercial purposes made up 62%, military 18%, and civil 15%.

Primary Payload Ownership

Over the years, China has seen a growing number of payloads launched into space:

• 2000-2023 Overview: Between 2000 and 2023, the infographic tracks primary payload ownership on Chinese launches. This reflects China’s increasing presence in the global launch market and highlights the share of non-Chinese operators using Chinese launch services.

Summary

China’s space activity in 2024 reflects a comprehensive and growing space program, encompassing scientific, commercial, and military objectives. With 800 operational satellites, China is advancing its global positioning with state-of-the-art satellite systems, civil space exploration missions, and substantial commercial sector growth. Supported by robust launch infrastructure and ground assets, China is poised to continue expanding its space operations both in low Earth orbit and beyond. The trends indicated in this overview suggest that China’s role in space will continue to grow as it develops new capabilities and explores ambitious goals, including the continued exploration of the Moon and Mars.