Ready for a space upgrade? The Chinese mainland is rolling out an "orbital guardian" – a massive satellite squad of 156 birds in low Earth orbit. 🚀
Set to launch starting in the first half of 2026, this network is all about space debris tracking and collision avoidance. Think of it as a cosmic traffic cop, monitoring fragments, predicting crash courses, and guiding satellites clear of danger!
Each satellite packs sensors like wide-field cameras, infrared imaging, electromagnetic detectors and even multispectral cams plus smart onboard processors. It's like giving each one its own brain to spot and dodge debris.
Why should South and Southeast Asia care? Our region's growing fleet of Earth-observation and communication satellites will get extra protection. Less downtime from dodged collisions means more reliable internet, weather forecasts and disaster alerts for millions. 🌏📡
Project lead Hu Yu explains: "We collect data on space debris and satellites, analyze it, then feed it back to operators to prevent collisions." It's teamwork between space tech and data science, keeping the final frontier safer.
With global coverage and real-time updates, this "orbital guardian" could reshape space traffic management. Keep an eye to the skies—2026 is bringing next-level safety for our satellites! 🌠
Reference(s):
China plans 'orbital guardian,' a 156-satellite safeguard for space
cgtn.com
