VLEO orbits critical for China's future, says academic
Chinese Academy of Engineering academic Wu Jiangxing stated that Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEO) represent the last strategic resource layer in Earth's space. He emphasized 2026-2030 as a critical window for China's development.
Wu Jiangxing, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has highlighted the significance of Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEO). These orbits, situated at altitudes between 100 and 350 kilometers, are described as the last strategic resource layer in Earth's space.
According to Wu Jiangxing, the five-year period between 2026 and 2030 represents a critical "window for alternative development" for China. He warned that failure to seize this opportunity to transition from experimental technologies to large-scale application could lead to China being left behind internationally.
Advantages of VLEO orbits compared to traditional low Earth orbits include a closer proximity to Earth. This proximity can simplify satellite payload development, reduce manufacturing and launch costs, and enhance the efficiency of information acquisition and transmission.
Wu Jiangxing stated that China must achieve a complete leap from technical experiments to scalable applications within this five-year timeframe. Otherwise, China risks falling into a passive position, being outpaced in international standards and resource allocation, according to Jianjie News, reporting from the Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai.