China · Orbital compute technology demonstration
This project focuses on testing computing technology in orbit.
Chenguang-1, also Tianyi-48, entered orbit on 24 July 2026 with an eight-accelerator server to test shared compute, concentrated photovoltaic power and graphene radiator technologies. Beijing Xingchen Future and Beijing Orbital Chenguang led its design, Spacety developed the spacecraft, and CAS Space provided launch. Component roles are disclosed; independently measured compute performance is not.
Beijing Xingchen Future Space Technology Research Institute / Beijing Orbital Chenguang Technology · In orbit
Scope: Shared computing & storage · A shared computing or storage platform, or a program developing that infrastructure. Classification describes intended use, not operating capacity.
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The source describes an eight-card server sent into orbit. Accelerator models and benchmark performance are not disclosed.
As of
Primary source ↗Entered its planned orbit on 24 July 2026; in-orbit technology validation was still to follow.
As of
Primary source ↗Figures retain their disclosed units and scope. Launched hardware does not establish demonstrated performance; targets may change. Not disclosed means no figure in the reviewed sources.
Lanyue-developed reaction wheels flown on Chenguang-1 / Tianyi-48.
The source establishes the named technical role. The date is the public report date, not an inferred procurement-signing date. Contracting buyer, instrument, price and exclusivity are not disclosed.
Announced 31 Jul 2026 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
Hunan identifies Lanyue reaction wheels on Chenguang-1 (opens in a new tab)Strategic partner
Program organization: 北京星辰未来空间技术研究院
PartnershipJoint overall spacecraft design with Beijing Xingchen Future Space Technology Research Institute. CAS Space separately identifies Orbital Chenguang as the satellite user.
This is a joint program/design role, not evidence that the institute purchased a spacecraft from Orbital Chenguang. Buyer, procurement instrument and value remain unknown.
Announced 28 Jul 2026 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
Spacety names Chenguang-1 joint design leads (opens in a new tab)Spacecraft development for Chenguang-1 / Tianyi-48, with the Beijing institute and Orbital Chenguang as joint design leads.
The source establishes the named technical role. The date is the public report date, not an inferred procurement-signing date. Contracting buyer, instrument, price and exclusivity are not disclosed.
Announced 28 Jul 2026 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
Spacety identifies Chenguang-1 spacecraft development (opens in a new tab)Laser communications terminal flown on the Chenguang-1 orbital compute demonstrator.
Named equipment role within the Beijing space-data-center innovation consortium. Buyer, procurement instrument, contract value and exclusivity are not disclosed.
Announced 26 Jul 2026 · Evidence checked 25 Sept 2026
Beijing names Chenguang-1 technology contributors (opens in a new tab)Integrated electronics unit developed for the Chenguang-1 orbital compute demonstrator.
Named development role within the Beijing space-data-center innovation consortium. Buyer, procurement instrument, contract value and exclusivity are not disclosed.
Announced 26 Jul 2026 · Evidence checked 25 Sept 2026
Beijing names Chenguang-1 technology contributors (opens in a new tab)Electric propulsion unit developed for the Chenguang-1 orbital compute demonstrator.
Named development role within the Beijing space-data-center innovation consortium. Buyer, procurement instrument, contract value and exclusivity are not disclosed.
Announced 26 Jul 2026 · Evidence checked 25 Sept 2026
Beijing names Chenguang-1 technology contributors (opens in a new tab)Delivered Kinetica-1 Y15 launch service for Chenguang-1 on 24 July 2026.
The source establishes the named technical role. The date is the public report date, not an inferred procurement-signing date. Contracting buyer, instrument, price and exclusivity are not disclosed.
Announced 24 Jul 2026 · Evidence checked 26 Sept 2026
CAS Space completes Kinetica-1 Y15 mission (opens in a new tab)Manual review 29 Oct 2026. Compared the Beijing launch account, Spacety developer release and saved component roles. Eight accelerator cards, concentrator photovoltaics and graphene radiator experiments remain supported. Added dawn-dusk orbit above 700 km and the named laser terminal. Processor model, IT load and independently measured compute or thermal results remain unknown. Primary body last observed 22 Oct, 07:13 UTC. Source monitoring: unavailable. Source collection and substantive profile review are separate checks. Plans and dates may change.
Beijing Municipal Government (opens in a new tab)Verified announcements and milestones linked to this project, newest first.
Hunan industry authorities identify Lanyue Electromechanical reaction wheels on Chenguang-1 / Tianyi-48. No purchasing entity, price or procurement instrument is disclosed.
Spacety names Beijing Xingchen Future Space Technology Research Institute and Beijing Orbital Chenguang Technology as joint design leads, with Spacety responsible for spacecraft development. This is the announcement date, not an inferred contract-signing date.
The demonstrator entered orbit with an eight-accelerator server and supporting power, thermal, laser communications, electric propulsion and avionics technologies.
CAS Space reports that Lijian-1 Y15 launched five satellites on July 24, 2026, including Chenguang-1 and Jitianxing A-04. Chenguang-1 is described as testing space-data-center energy and thermal technologies with commercial computing servers. Jitianxing A-04 is described as carrying a MetaX GPU-based computing payload, router and laser terminal for the Three-Body Computing Constellation.
Beijing science and technology authorities describe a three-stage orbital-data-center roadmap and identify Chenguang-1 as the first technology demonstrator. Beijing Xingchen Future and Beijing Orbital Chenguang lead the innovation consortium. The first phase targets 200 kW and 1,000 POPS during 2025–2027, followed by further constellation development in 2028–2030 and larger-scale deployment during 2031–2035.
Government-backed briefing describes a 200 kW, 1,000-POPS first-stage goal through 2027, later in-orbit assembly and a long-range large-scale network; these are roadmap targets, not disclosed procurement orders.
