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A company backed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences is planning to introduce a space-sensing constellation designed to protect space stations, spacecraft, and satellites. This initiative aims to tackle safety concerns caused by the increasingly crowded Earth orbit, driven by the rapid expansion of commercial space activities worldwide.
The proposed “Star Eye” constellation will consist of 156 satellites, creating a fast-response, near-Earth monitoring network with worldwide coverage, according to Geovis Insighter Technology. This system will continually track the paths of in-orbit spacecraft and space debris in real time, issue collision alerts, and support space traffic management efforts.
The satellites are scheduled to be launched sequentially starting in the first half of next year, gradually building up the complete network, the Hefei-based company stated.
With the booming commercial aerospace sector, the number of satellites and space debris has surged significantly, emphasizing an urgent need for effective traffic management services, explained Wu Yirong, a respected CAS academic and director of the Aerospace Information Research Institute.
The Star Eye system will provide comprehensive data support across all stages— from satellite deployment and orbit management to operational activities and end-of-life disposal— to improve the safety, dependability, and success rates of space missions. Wu also noted that the system might eventually provide data services to third-party organizations like insurance companies and research institutions.
This development follows a recent three-year action plan released by China’s space agency, focused on expanding commercial aerospace. The plan emphasizes tracking and analyzing space debris, creating a dynamic debris database, issuing early warning alerts, managing in-orbit collision incidents, and responding to emergencies.
China’s commercial space industry first surpassed CNY 1 trillion (approximately USD 141.3 billion) in 2020 and has grown steadily, with an average annual compound growth rate exceeding 20%. Last year, the sector reached CNY 2.3 trillion (about USD 325 billion), and projections indicate it could hit CNY 2.8 trillion this year, according to AskCI Research.
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