(Yicai) Nov. 28 -- Astro-future Institute of Space Technology, a Beijing-based research institute, plans to build China’s first space computing center in low-Earth orbit at an altitude of 700 to 800 kilometers within the next five years, with its first experimental satellite “Chenguang-1” slated for launch around the end of this year or early next year.

Beijing’s science and technology commission and the Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park announced the construction plan at a conference yesterday, underscoring the project’s strategic significance as part of the capital’s broader efforts to advance commercial space and artificial intelligence technologies, Beijing Daily reported.

“Chenguang-1,” whose computing capacity is roughly equivalent to that of a ground-based server, will serve as a standard module for the future in-orbit data center. “Objectively speaking, its computing capacity is not large, but we need to take this small step first,” said Zhang Shancong, director of Astro-future. He added that the proposed space data center will evolve into a gigawatt-level computing hub capable of training and running super-large language models through in-orbit docking of modular components.

The project blueprint envisions three subsystems -- spatial computing, relay transmission, and ground control -- and outlines a phased rollout of the spatial computing network. The first computing constellation is scheduled for completion between 2025 and 2027, with a second constellation to be built from 2028 to 2030. Starting in 2031, the developer plans to begin batch satellite production, launch, in-orbit docking, and assembly, aiming to complete the large-scale space data center by 2035.

The center will harness continuous solar energy in orbit and benefit from the cooling conditions of the ultra-cold space environment to deliver efficient artificial intelligence computing services to users on the ground. According to the plan, the constellation’s computing power is expected to reach 1,000PFlops within three years and increase to 400,000PFlops by 2030, a level equivalent to the total computing capacity of all ground data centers in China at present. It is expected to support applications such as 6G technology, autonomous driving, and weather forecasting.

Gong Weimi, deputy director of the Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park, said the space data center represents a key strategic intersection of commercial space and artificial intelligence technologies and will become a priority component of Beijing’s development as an international center for technological innovation. The Beijing municipal government will increase its support for the project, he added.

Editor: Emmi Laine