Recently, space computing has emerged as a new focal point in the global technological competition!
What is “Space Computing”?
In simple terms, it involves sending computing centers and AI into space, enabling data to be processed and analyzed right there in orbit. This represents a shift from the traditional model of “data collected in space, processed on Earth” to the innovative “data collected and processed in space”.
Under the traditional model, all satellite data must be transmitted back to Earth for processing. However, constrained by the bandwidth of ground stations, up to 90% of valuable data may be discarded during transmission. In contrast, space computing enables real-time on-orbit processing and intelligent analysis. Only the final results or high-value information need to be downlinked to Earth, reducing response times from the “day/hour level” to the “second/minute level”. This is revolutionary for scenarios such as disaster emergency response and global target monitoring.
Currently, the global competition for space computing power is in full swing, and China has moved beyond concept verification to commercial operation.
Guoxing Aerospace and the “Star Computing Initiative”
On May 14, 2025, the world’s first space computing satellite constellation (with 12 initial satellites) – a joint effort by Zhejiang Lab and Guoxing Aerospace – was successfully launched. Composed of multiple intelligent satellites operating in synergy in low Earth orbit, this constellation forms a powerful space computing network. Beyond the communication and remote sensing capabilities of traditional satellites, these satellites are equipped with advanced computing chips and algorithms, enabling real-time processing of massive amounts of data in space. They provide efficient and accurate services to various Earth-based fields, including scientific research, meteorology, environmental protection, and agriculture. This milestone achievement marks the entry of China’s first fully interconnected on-orbit space computing constellation into the networking phase.
As an active player in the space computing sector, Guoxing Aerospace saw its independently developed “Zero-Carbon Space Computing Center” recognized as one of the Top 10 Premium Launch Achievements of the Year at the 2025 World Internet Conference. It is reported that this award-winning center consists of a network of 2,800 computing satellites, which will deliver global coverage of space computing and high-speed connectivity. In addition to its robust computing capabilities, it achieves zero carbon emissions, setting a new benchmark for the green development of the global space computing industry.
In terms of technological iteration, Guoxing Aerospace has unveiled its next-generation computing satellite “Tiancheng-10”, with a single-satellite computing power exceeding 10 petaflops (PFlops). To support the constellation’s large-scale deployment, the company has adopted automatic hardware part feeding and assembly systems in the satellite production line – these systems realize precise feeding, positioning, and assembly of core hardware components such as circuit boards, connectors, and structural fasteners, ensuring micron-level assembly accuracy and stable consistency across batches while significantly accelerating the mass production cycle. For commercial applications, the company has partnered with Capitalonline Data Service Co., Ltd. to operate traffic network analysis models on-orbit. This collaboration enables inferential analysis of Earth observation images to be completed and results downlinked within 3 minutes, saving over 90% of transmission bandwidth and marking the practical implementation of commercial space computing scenarios.
Zhejiang Lab and the “Three-Body Computing Constellation”
The “Three-Body Computing Constellation” is a 1,000-satellite scale space computing infrastructure co-developed by Zhejiang Lab and global partners. Its name draws inspiration from Newton’s “Three-Body Problem”, symbolizing the complex interdependencies that arise when three or more entities work in synergy – much like the gravitational interactions between celestial bodies. As a representative research institution, Zhejiang Lab leads the initiative. The constellation plans to deploy over 50 computing satellites by 2025, with a long-term goal of building a space computing infrastructure with a total computing power of 1,000 petaflops. Its initial satellite cluster is also equipped with a space-based model featuring 8 billion parameters, enabling on-orbit data processing.
This project has pioneered a fourth category of artificial satellites – computing satellites – upgrading satellites from mere data collectors to intelligent terminals with on-orbit processing capabilities. It not only achieves technological breakthroughs but also explores an effective path for industry-academia-research collaborative innovation. As Wang Jian, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and director of Zhejiang Lab, stated: “Artificial intelligence must not be absent from space due to a lack of computing power.” This project is opening up new possibilities for the development of China’s aerospace industry.
Research Institutions and Universities & the “Sky Computing Constellation”
The “Sky Computing Constellation” is an open-source on-orbit experimental platform for space-air computing initiated by Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT). By jointly building ground stations and collaborating on technological R&D, it connects numerous research institutions and universities to conduct on-orbit experiments on cutting-edge technologies such as satellite internet, 6G communications, and intelligent remote sensing.
At 12:12 on May 17, 2025, the Zhuque-2 modified Y2 launch vehicle successfully launched six satellites in one mission. Among them, “BUPT-2” and “BUPT-3” – the first batch of satellites for the second phase of the “Sky Computing Constellation” – were deployed into orbit smoothly. According to plans, the second phase of the “Sky Computing Constellation” will launch 24 satellites, focusing on experimental research into frontier technologies like space-air computing and 6G networks.
Unlike traditional remote sensing satellites, which only capture images, the satellites of the “Sky Computing Constellation” can pre-process information in space using AI inference: discarding low-quality images of little interest before transmitting valid information back to Earth. This “space computing” model reduces the amount of data transmitted back by 90%, significantly enhancing the efficiency and intelligence of data processing.
Space computing is not merely a technological revolution; it is a strategic layout for the future of humanity’s computing power. Currently, global tech giants are accelerating their deployment in this field. For example:
The U.S.-based Starcloud has launched a test satellite equipped with NVIDIA H100 chips and the Gemini model.
Elon Musk has announced plans to expand the scale of Starlink V3 satellites to build space data centers.
The European Union has initiated its “Space Data Center” program.
Above Earth, in the orbits surrounding our planet, a silent revolution in computing power has already begun!
