Xingtu Cekong Company introduced the Star Eye satellite network with the task of monitoring objects in orbit to avoid collisions.
When completed, Star Eye will consist of 156 satellites, capable of determining the orbits of other satellites and space junk, detecting unusual movements, providing collision warnings and advising on position adjustments every two hours.
Xingtu Cekong said that the entire network is expected to be operational after 2028. According to Hu Yu, company President and project leader, the network will provide updates every 30 minutes, with the ability to provide global coverage in low orbits and monitor some targets in higher orbits.
Simulation of China’s spatial awareness satellite network. Photo: Bastille Post
Star Eye is designed to support commercial space operations, Hu said. Each satellite will carry multiple cameras and sensors such as wide-field, infrared, multispectral cameras, electromagnetic trackers and onboard processors, and use AI to detect risks and support automatic collision avoidance. When junk or other objects are detected in orbit, satellites determine their location and then send data to the ground for processing. Next, Hu’s team will submit a recovery strategy to the satellites so that they avoid collisions and preserve space assets.
The project is implemented in two phases. In the first phase, the core system of 12 high-performance satellites will launch into orbit before the end of 2027. In the second phase, Xingtu Cekong deploys 144 lower-cost satellites to increase coverage. The company plans to pre-deploy two test satellites in the first half of next year.
Star Eye is China’s second spatial awareness network. In September, Kaiyun-1, the first satellite in the Guangshi network operated by Beijing Kaiyun United, was launched into orbit. However, Guangshi will be smaller in scale than Star Eye, consisting of only 24 satellites.
Theo SCMPto date, the only fully operational network of its kind is the US military’s Geostationary Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP), which uses five satellites operating in geosynchronous orbit to monitor other space vehicles and investigate unusual activity.