Integrated satellite lifts commercial space

China's commercial aerospace sector is witnessing accelerated innovation as private satellite maker GalaxySpace pushes ahead with the development of advanced satellite technologies that integrate communications, remote sensing, computing and artificial intelligence. In a recent milestone, China successfully launched the PEGA-SUS1 satellite into its planned orbit.

The satellite is a technology verification platform for the integrated "communication, sensing, intelligence and computing" concept. It was jointly developed by GalaxySpace, Pengcheng Laboratory, the Southern University of Science and Technology and other partners. The satellite marks the first time in China that a 5G non-terrestrial network base station, core network, onboard AI computing, satellite-to-ground laser communication and microwave communication have been jointly carried into space on a single technology verification satellite.

By connecting the onboard information flow of "communication, sensing, intelligence and computing", the satellite will explore a new design philosophy of "multi-purpose use and functional integration", promoting the evolution of satellites from single-service carriers to space information supernodes capable of integrated communication, sensing, computing and intelligent processing, GalaxySpace said.

Ren Jiadong, deputy director of the satellite overall technology department at GalaxySpace, said the satellite can essentially move the core network — the "brain" of 5G networks traditionally deployed in ground-based computer rooms — directly into space. After the satellite's remote sensing payload captures images, onboard intelligent computing modules can complete target detection and recognition, extract useful information and convert it into network content.

This information is then synchronized to the core network via high-speed onboard interfaces. Ground users only need to access the satellite network through certain terminals to view various types of information analyzed in real time by the satellite, much like browsing the internet in daily life.

For example, in the event of a ground fire, traditional models require data downlink and image generation before analysis can begin. Now, the satellite can directly analyze remote sensing data in orbit, output fire detection results, calculate the affected area and rapidly distribute the findings — without transmitting raw images back to Earth.

This significantly reduces bandwidth usage and data transmission time, and supports on-demand retrieval of raw video and image data, Ren said. In the future, the satellite will also support multiple 6G frontier technology tests in orbit, promoting the leap from ground-based network integration to integrated space-air-ground networks, accumulating experience for the development of China's next-generation communication technologies.

As of Sept 20, GalaxySpace had successfully launched more than 50 self-developed satellites. Ren said the era of the new space economy, represented by satellite internet, is arriving. GalaxySpace will continue to accelerate technological innovation, maintain its leadership in the scaled manufacturing of low-cost, high-performance satellites and provide key support for building intelligent space infrastructure.

Earlier this year, the China National Space Administration underscored the need to encourage commercial space development, with a focus on emerging sectors such as space-based computing power and in-space manufacturing, to deeply expand commercial application scenarios. Vice-Minister of Industry and Information Technology and CNSA Director Shan Zhongde said more efforts will be made to strengthen strategic planning and standards guidance, improve policies, regulations and standard systems for the commercial space sector.

Shan also urged fully leveraging the role of specialized standardization committees for civil and commercial space, as well as relevant organizations covering rockets, satellites, launch sites and frequencies. In April, the Space Computing Professional Committee, China's first industry-wide coordination platform dedicated to space computing, was established in Beijing.

Data from the market consulting company CCID Consulting show that China's commercial space market reached 2.83 trillion yuan ($424.8 billion) in 2025, up 21.7 percent year-on-year. The industry is expected to surge to 3.5 trillion yuan in 2026. masi@chinadaily.com.cn