China to launch thousands of satellites to neutralize Starlink

Elon Musk has another problem. China announced its plans put about 13,000 satellites into orbit to compete with Starlink, satellite Internet SpaceX. According to a report from South China Morning Postthe Chinese military will launch a group that will offer the same services as its American counterpart, although will include the ability to spy on your opponents.

Unlike SpaceX, China not only plans to provide the Internet and spy on its users, but also set up a network capable of neutralizing Starlink. The project, codenamed GW, is being developed by researchers at Beijing University of Space Technology. Xu Can, the professor in charge, said that the constellation consists of 12,992 satellites which can be quickly deployed.

Chinese researchers plan to launch their satellites before Elon Musk and SpaceX take over Starlink resources. In a magazine publication Command control and simulationXu Can explained that the deployment would ensure that China would have a place in low orbit, although its satellites may be placed at other orbital altitudes. Chinese scientists are confident that their technology It can be placed in places where Starlink has not reached..

Perhaps the most important thing in the article is that the constellation GW can be fitted with an “anti-Starlink” payload. According to Xu Jan, Chinese satellites can short-range and long-range surveillance tasks. The Chinese military believes that Starlink satellites monitor space and can receive data from the US Department of Defense to coordinate their positions.

Scientists believe that SpaceX may have led the attack at the request of the government, which is contrary to the policy of the company, led by Elon Musk. “Starlink satellites can use their orbital maneuverability to actively engage and destroy nearby targets in space,” they said. “China’s space defense and surveillance capabilities cannot handle so many satellites,” Xu Can said.

China has a plan to destroy Starlink

It’s no secret that Starlink is seen as a threat in many countries. Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, Russia had already declared war on SpaceX satellite internet. Now it’s China’s turn, which believes satellites are the US government’s tool for spying on its adversaries.

GW plans to offer Internet services to users around the world, although the real goal is different. Its creators are implementing surveillance measures, and at some point, suppression of enemy constellations. Xu Can said that China to build more powerful radars to identify and track Starlink satellites. Over time, the military will have a catalog with all the data on each SpaceX device entering low orbit.

The report also mentions the development of new weapons such as powerful laser and microwave beams to neutralize Starlink satellites that pass through China. Earlier, a group of researchers accused SpaceX of violating the rules of movement in low Earth orbit. After a detailed study, Chinese scientists found that the satellites were within 4.9 km, which is less than the distance set to avoid collisions.

SpaceX satellites to help US ‘dominate’ space

The Chinese military has already warned of the possibility of US dominance in space with the help of Starlink. He PLA daily published a warning a few months ago about the danger of more than 12,000 SpaceX satellites in low Earth orbit.

A year earlier, China blamed SpaceX at the UN for the incident with two Starlink satellites. In a letter sent to the UN Secretary General, the Asian country mentioned that the Tiangong space station had to perform evasive maneuvers to avoid colliding with two satellites. In its letter, China stated that the parties to the Outer Space Treaty, signed in 1967, must act responsibly.