Following the launch of Kaiyun 1, China is set to deploy another “Space Situational Awareness (SSA) satellite constellation” to reduce the risk of collisions between satellites and decrease reliance on foreign data sources, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 30th. This system, named “Xingyan” or “Star Eye,” will include a total of 156 satellites. It will identify other satellites and space debris, detect abnormal movements, and provide collision warnings and maneuvering advice every two hours.
The company responsible for this system’s development, Xingtu Cekong, is a spinoff from Zhongke Xingtu, a leading space data firm based in Anhui Province, China. The company plans to deploy 12 satellites by 2027 and activate the full system after 2028. Hu Yu, the company’s chairman and project leader, stated on the 27th of last month that their system will cover the entire low Earth orbit globally and offer updates every 30 minutes, including monitoring of high orbit targets.
In September, China launched its first SSA satellite, “Kaiyun 1.” Currently, the only operational space situational awareness system with a significant role is the U.S. “Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP),” which tracks other spacecraft and monitors abnormal activities using five geosynchronous satellites.
The concept of SSA originated in the 1990s to detect, track, and predict the movement of satellites and space debris in orbit. The system relies on ground-based radar and telescope networks as well as space-based sensors in low and high orbits. With thousands of new satellites being launched annually, SSA has become essential for space traffic management and collision prevention.
This technology can assist commercial satellite operators in avoiding space debris and enable tracking of foreign satellites, anomaly detection, and military planning. Xingtu Cekong emphasized that the new satellites are primarily designed to support commercial space operations. Each satellite will be equipped with various sensors, including wide-field cameras, infrared equipment, multispectral imagers, electromagnetic monitors, and onboard processors.
The project is divided into two phases: first, establishing a “backbone” network with 12 high-performance satellites, and then launching an additional 144 low-cost satellites to provide comprehensive coverage. Two test satellites are also planned to be launched in the first half of next year.
In addition to China, other commercial entities such as Turion Space, based in California, USA, are entering the SSA field. Turion Space has been launching dedicated SSA satellites for about two years, actively participating in the competitive market.