China successfully launches advanced SAR and integrated 5G NTN satellites

China has successfully completed two significant satellite launch missions involving advanced communication and sensing technologies.

On September 19, a Long March 2D rocket launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, successfully deploying four PIESAT-2 (13–16) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites. Developed by private firm GalaxySpace, these satellites feature high-resolution SAR payloads and onboard intelligent processing capabilities. This technology allows for real-time data interpretation and processing in orbit, reducing the need for massive data transmission to ground stations.

In a separate mission on September 20, a Lijian-1 Y-18 rocket launched nine satellites, including the Peng Cheng First Star. This mission marks a domestic first for integrating “communication, sensing, intelligence, and computing” (通感智算) technologies. The Peng Cheng First Star serves as a technical verification satellite, carrying a 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) base station, a core network, onboard AI computing, and high-speed laser communication. This integration aims to evolve satellites from single-purpose carriers into multifunctional space information nodes capable of processing data, such as fire detection, directly in orbit before transmitting results to ground users.