As the first satellite manufactured in Xiong'an New Area of Hebei province awaits liftoff later this year, the emerging "city of the future" is steadily assembling the pieces of a full-fledged aerospace information and satellite ecosystem — from manufacturing, to testing and in-orbit maintenance.
At an automated satellite manufacturing facility operated by Hongqing Technology in Xiong'an, robotic arms move smoothly across the production floor, installing components onto satellite platforms with minimal human intervention.
It was here that the landmark Xiong'an-1, the first "Made-in-Xiong'an" satellite, rolled off the production line in October last year, and is scheduled for launch in the second half of this year.
The satellite integrates multiple advanced technologies that are able to address key challenges in computing power constraints, energy limitations and propulsion efficiency, said its manufacturer.
"Xiong'an-1 is designed to pave the way for large-scale satellite manufacturing and constellation deployment," said Chen Ying, a senior executive at Hongqing Technology. "It will help move technologies from laboratories into real space environments more quickly, while exploring lower-cost pathways for satellite mass production and process optimization."
Its production also marks an important milestone for the new area's aerospace ambitions. Alongside the satellite's completion, Hongqing inaugurated Xiong'an's first intelligent satellite manufacturing pilot base, with a capacity to manufacture more than 100 flat-panel communication satellites annually.
Yet manufacturing is only one part of the equation.
Once completed, the facility will be able to manufacture up to 50 communication and remote-sensing satellites weighing around 500 kilograms each year, Yang said.
Beyond manufacturing and testing, Xiong'an is also seeking to establish capabilities in perhaps one of the industry's most promising frontiers — in-orbit services.
The FX series spacecraft, China's first commercial spacecraft designed specifically for satellite deployment and in-orbit servicing developed by domestic space tech firm FutureSpace in Xiong'an, is expected to deliver its first launch in the second half of this year.
The spacecraft is capable of performing low-Earth-orbit maneuvering, multi-satellite deployment, orbital transfers, debris removal and satellite maintenance missions.
"It's like opening a satellite 4S shop in space," said Niu Min, founder and CEO of FutureSpace.
"The assembly facility is designed to operate four production lines simultaneously, with an expected annual capacity of around 60 spacecraft," Niu said, adding that the company plans to anchor its operations in Xiong'an, gradually establishing an integrated ecosystem encompassing R&D, manufacturing, delivery and industry collaboration.
As one of the three pillar industries that Xiong'an is prioritizing for development, the aerospace and satellite industry has seen broader momentum.
According to Li Peidong, deputy director of the reform and development bureau of Xiong'an, the new area has attracted 68 aerospace information enterprises and nine innovation platforms so far. Construction has also begun on Xiong'an's satellite intelligent manufacturing center, as well as a commercial satellite assembly and supporting industrial base.
"Xiong'an's first complete innovation-driven industrial chain has thus basically taken shape," Li said.
lijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn
