China's first communications satellite has been launched which is bearing an ultra-thin flexible solar wing as it puts to test the technologies for the 13,000-satellite broadband mega constellation which has been planned by the country in low-Earth orbit to create a rival to&nbsp;SpaceX’s Starlink.

The Lingxi-03, which has been created by the Beijing-based start-up GalaxySpace, was placed on top of a Long March 2D rocket and took off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi province in central China at 10.50 am on Sunday (23 July).

The bendable solar panel of Lingxi-03 measures about 1mm thick, which is equal to the thickness of a credit card and is only 5 per cent of the thickness that a traditional solar panel has, as per state broadcaster CCTV. When the panel is folded inside a rocket, the thickness of the solar array is 5cm (2 inches) and it can expand to 9 metres long and 2.5 metres wide (29.5 feet by 8.2 feet) once it is operational in orbit.

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Earlier, such solar panels have been used by China only to power its Tiangong space station, reported CCTV on Sunday.

“These solar wings are small, lightweight and easy to store. They absorb more solar energy than traditional solar panels do and are especially suitable for large-scale stackable satellite launches,” said Zhu Zhengxian, chief technology officer of GalaxySpace, while speaking to China Science Daily on Tuesday (July 25).&nbsp;

<h2>First satellite with&nbsp;integrated main body structure</h2>

The Lingxi-03 is also the first satellite of China with an integrated main body structure, as per Zhu. He stated that the satellite platform has been inspired by used advanced die-cast technologies and the chassis of a car, making it suited to mass production.

The Lingxi-03 has been equipped with a digital payload which can handle tens of gigabytes of data per second and will verify technologies which are connected to active thermal control, next-generation low-orbit broadband communications, and stackable satellite release, among others, said the satellite’s chief commander Hu Zhao, while speaking to CCTV.

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“It synthesises many functions of a ground-based station and can analyse an enormous amount of user information,” Hu stated.&nbsp;

The Lingxi-03 has been built in an open-frame design which means that all instruments are attached directly to the satellite's exterior and exposed to the harsh space environment. Hu stated that this needed temperature control and extraordinary radiation protection for the electronics on the device.&nbsp;

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China's first communications satellite has been launched which is bearing an ultra-thin flexible solar wing as it puts to test the technologies for the 13,000-satellite broadband mega constellation which has been planned by the country in low-Earth orbit to create a rival to SpaceX’s Starlink.

China's first communications satellite has been launched which is bearing an ultra-thin flexible solar wing as it puts to test the technologies for the 13,000-satellite broadband mega constellation which has been planned by the country in low-Earth orbit to create a rival to SpaceX’s Starlink. The Lingxi-03, which has been created by the Beijing-based start-up GalaxySpace, was placed on top of a Long March 2D rocket and took off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi province in central China at 10.50 am on Sunday (23 July). The bendable solar panel of Lingxi-03 measures about 1mm thick, which is equal to the thickness of a credit card and is only 5 per cent of the thickness that a traditional solar panel has, as per state broadcaster CCTV. When the panel is folded inside a rocket, the thickness of the solar array is 5cm (2 inches) and it can expand to 9 metres long and 2.5 metres wide (29.5 feet by 8.2 feet) once it is operational in orbit. ALSO READ | Consumer sentiment is down in China, but it's not impacting condom sale Earlier, such solar panels have been used by China only to power its Tiangong space station, reported CCTV on Sunday. “These solar wings are small, lightweight and easy to store. They absorb more solar energy than traditional solar panels do and are especially suitable for large-scale stackable satellite launches,” said Zhu Zhengxian, chief technology officer of GalaxySpace, while speaking to China Science Daily on Tuesday (July 25). First satellite with integrated main body structure The Lingxi-03 is also the first satellite of China with an integrated main body structure, as per Zhu. He stated that the satellite platform has been inspired by used advanced die-cast technologies and the chassis of a car, making it suited to mass production. The Lingxi-03 has been equipped with a digital payload which can handle tens of gigabytes of data per second and will verify technologies which are connected to active thermal control, next-generation low-orbit broadband communications, and stackable satellite release, among others, said the satellite’s chief commander Hu Zhao, while speaking to CCTV. WATCH | China gives no reason for removing Qin Gang as Foreign Minister “It synthesises many functions of a ground-based station and can analyse an enormous amount of user information,” Hu stated. The Lingxi-03 has been built in an open-frame design which means that all instruments are attached directly to the satellite's exterior and exposed to the harsh space environment. Hu stated that this needed temperature control and extraordinary radiation protection for the electronics on the device. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

China pushes through communications satellite to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink

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China on Sunday sent a new communications satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The "ChinaSat 6C" satellite was launched at 00:28 Beijing Time by a Long March-3B carrier rocket. It will provide high-quality radio and TV transmission services.

The satellite, sent to the geostationary orbit, can cover China, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific island countries.

The satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, and will be operated by the China Satellite Communications Co, Ltd.

The launch marks the 300th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

The Long March carrier rocket series has been responsible for about 96.4 per cent of all the launch missions in China.

It took 37 years for the Long March rockets to complete the first 100 launches, 7.5 years to complete the second 100 launches, and only about four years to accomplish the final 100, with the average number of launches per year increasing from 2.7 to 13.3 and then to 23.5.

"So far, China has been launching satellites in a high frequency. We have 11 more missions scheduled for this year after this mission," said Jin Zhiqiang, general director of the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

China on Sunday sent a new communications satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The "ChinaSat 6C" satellite was launched at 00:28 Beijing Time by a Long March-3B carrier rocket.

China on Sunday sent a new communications satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The "ChinaSat 6C" satellite was launched at 00:28 Beijing Time by a Long March-3B carrier rocket. It will provide high-quality radio and TV transmission services. The satellite, sent to the geostationary orbit, can cover China, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific island countries. The satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, and will be operated by the China Satellite Communications Co, Ltd. The launch marks the 300th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The Long March carrier rocket series has been responsible for about 96.4 per cent of all the launch missions in China. It took 37 years for the Long March rockets to complete the first 100 launches, 7.5 years to complete the second 100 launches, and only about four years to accomplish the final 100, with the average number of launches per year increasing from 2.7 to 13.3 and then to 23.5. "So far, China has been launching satellites in a high frequency. We have 11 more missions scheduled for this year after this mission," said Jin Zhiqiang, general director of the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

China launches new communications satellite 'ChinaSat 6C', marks 300th mission of Long March rocket series

ISRO has said that it has lost communictions links with its GSAT-6A satellite.&nbsp;

The GSAT-6A had been launched on board the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) on Thursday.&nbsp;

The launch vehicle had deposited the satellite in transfer orbit on March 29. It was to be placed in final orbit today. .

"After the successful long-duration firings, the communication from the satellite was lost when it (satellite) was on course for the final firing (to place the satellite in its final geostationary orbit), scheduled for April 1 (Sunday)," ISRO said in a statement.&nbsp;

It added that efforts are on to re-establish links with the satellite.&nbsp;

Only after re-establishing communications&nbsp;links with the satellite can it be put in final orbit.&nbsp;

The GSAT-6A, launched on Thursday, was to be put into final geostationary orbit today

ISRO has said that it has lost communictions links with its GSAT-6A satellite. The GSAT-6A had been launched on board the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) on Thursday. The launch vehicle had deposited the satellite in transfer orbit on March 29. It was to be placed in final orbit today. . "After the successful long-duration firings, the communication from the satellite was lost when it (satellite) was on course for the final firing (to place the satellite in its final geostationary orbit), scheduled for April 1 (Sunday)," ISRO said in a statement. It added that efforts are on to re-establish links with the satellite. Only after re-establishing communications links with the satellite can it be put in final orbit.

ISRO says it has lost contact with its communications satellite GSAT-6A

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