Hainan Province is gearing up to establish a satellite manufacturing facility in response to the increasing demand for commercial launches.
The facility, to be built in Wenchang City, is poised to streamline satellite production processes akin to automobile assembly lines, thus driving down costs and propelling China’s commercial space industry forward.
Liu Botao, chief engineer of fixed assets construction at Beijing Institute of Spacecraft Environment Engineering, anticipates an annual production output of 1,000 satellites once the facility becomes operational.
In a collaborative effort, experts from national aerospace institutes and commercial space companies convened in Hainan to deliberate on the facility’s design, ensuring it caters to the growing demand for commercial launches in the foreseeable future.
Traditionally, satellites have been constructed individually, leading to considerable expenses. However, with the establishment of this facility, private companies can expect more cost-effective options for satellite deployment into space.
The strategic location of the factory near launch pads in Wenchang City is poised to streamline logistics and reduce transportation costs significantly.
Zhang Chenghao, a director at the administration bureau of Wenchang International Aerospace City, highlighted the operational efficiency the factory will bring, stating, “In the past, the satellites were manufactured all over the country and then shipped to Hainan, with the help of the factory however, we will be able to launch the satellites once they are built”.
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