China has officially commenced the construction of a groundbreaking satellite mega constellation, known as Qianfan, which is projected to include nearly 14,000 satellites. The initial rollout of 18 satellites has raised alarm among astronomers concerning potential disruptions to the night sky.
The Qianfan mega constellation aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity and is set to compete with established networks such as SpaceX’s Starlink, which currently operates over 6,000 satellites, significantly increasing the total number of active satellites in orbit.
As this ambitious project unfolds, the implications for both astronomy and global internet accessibility are significant and warrant close attention from the scientific community and stakeholders in the tech industry.
