Shanghai's 15th Five-Year Plan Accelerates Satellite Internet, 6G-AI Integration and Reusable Rockets

Shanghai Municipal People's Government General Office recently issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for Strategic Emerging Industries Development in Shanghai. The plan calls for promoting the integrated development of satellite internet with BeiDou, sixth-generation mobile communications (6G) and artificial intelligence, accelerating the networking of the Qianfan Constellation low-orbit communication satellites, promoting the Smart Sky Network medium-orbit space-based tracking, telemetry and command services, and accelerating the large-scale application of satellite internet and BeiDou.

In the commercial rocket sector, the plan specifies accelerating the development of a new generation of large-diameter, high-thrust reusable rockets, and researching key technologies including high-thrust rocket engines, return control systems and structural modules, to meet the high-density networking needs of low-orbit satellite constellations, with supporting assembly and other infrastructure to be built.

In the satellite internet sector, the plan proposes developing key supporting technologies including transparent forwarding low-orbit beam-hopping communication, inter-satellite laser links, satellite-borne phased array antennas and flexible solar wings, breaking through large-scale, fully automated low-orbit orbit-change deployment technology, and developing low-orbit satellite broadband network communication technology for direct connection to mobile phones, while promoting the development of ground user terminals and satellite terminals. At the same time, the plan calls for accelerating the layout of ultra-precision, ultra-stable and ultra-clean spacecraft research and development platforms, and building mass-production satellite digital factories.

In the space services sector, the plan requires enhancing service capabilities in satellite communication, navigation, remote sensing, tracking and control, breaking through core technologies such as satellite in-orbit fault handling and fuel replenishment, and improving a full-process insurance system covering rocket launches, satellite in-orbit operations and third-party liability.