China plans satellite traffic management system
National space agency cites need for sustainability as satellites in orbit could reach 100,000
China is planning a traffic management system for satellites in orbit as part of its efforts to support the commercial space sector, South China Morning Post reported Sunday.
Meng Lingjie, director of the China National Space Administration's Earth Observation and Data Centre, said, "Our calculations show that low Earth orbit could get overcrowded with about 100,000 satellites."
"To keep space sustainable, the CNSA is working on a traffic management system to better organize satellite placement and operations," Meng told a news portal.
He said that without a management system, "overlapping projects and repetitive competition" could harm the space industry's development.
Meng added that the government would provide strong support to the commercial space industry, which is building multiple large-scale satellite constellations.
Industry data show China has 58 satellite factories either operating, under construction, or in planning, according to South China Morning Post.
Publicly available estimates suggest China's satellite production could surpass 5,000 units per year by the end of this year.
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