China plans 2,200 satellites to be launched into near-Earth orbit

In the next 5 to 10 years, China has announced 12 plans for small satellite constellation networks, which will consist of more than 2,200 satellites. They are mainly remote sensing and communication satellites. And if 8-10 satellites are released each launch, it will take nearly 300 missions to complete the task, Wang Xiaojun, head of the state-owned China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, told the Global Times. It will be capable of delivering payloads of 70 tons into near-Earth orbit, and is expected to make its maiden flight by 2027. The spacecraft will be utilized to send a lunar surface lander and lunar landing spacecraft to the Lunar Transfer Orbit, which is capable of carrying payloads of no less than 27 tons to the LTO. It will be a five-meter-diameter, three-stage mega rocket with a height of 110 meters, capable of carrying payloads of 150 tons into near-Earth orbit, 50 tons into the LTO and 35 tons to the Mars Transfer Orbit. In this year's report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang at the first session of the 14th NPC on Sunday, Li elaborated on the fruitful accomplishments made in scientific and technological innovation in the past years, including in areas of manned spaceflight, lunar and Martian exploration, and satellite navigation.