{
  "id": 4619048,
  "title": "As China-US space race heats up, Shanghai unveils space-computing hub",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/as-china-us-space-race-heats-up-shanghai-unveils-space-computing-hub-4619048",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-31T09:30:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SCMP Tech",
    "slug": "scmp-tech",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3365839/china-us-space-race-heats-shanghai-unveils-space-computing-hub"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China's ambitious push to establish an orbital data ecosystem has seen Shanghai take the lead in unveiling a new space-computing hub. This latest development comes as part of the city's broader strategy to counter US dominance in the commercial space race. At the inaugural forum held on Sunday in Songjiang district, a range of industry stakeholders, including aerospace developers, semiconductor manufacturers, AI specialists, cloud vendors, researchers, and investors, gathered to discuss advancements in in-orbit data processing.\n\nThe newly established space-computing hub aims to enhance the ability of satellites to analyze data while in orbit, thereby reducing the need for transmitting raw files back to ground stations and speeding up real-time intelligence capabilities. Long-term plans for this hub include the deployment of solar-powered orbital data centres, which could alleviate pressure on existing land-based power grids.\n\nLocated in Songjiang, a district that has identified commercial space as a key focus for development, the hub benefits from its strategic position within China's satellite supply chain. Notably, SpaceSail, a Shanghai government-backed firm, is a major player in the area. The company is currently constructing Qianfan, China's main low-Earth-orbit competitor to SpaceX's Starlink, which has already launched over 200 satellites and plans to deploy a 15,000-satellite mega-constellation by the end of 2030.\n\nSongjiang's satellite-internet sector is valued at 23 billion yuan (US$3.4 billion) as of 2025, supported by over 100 companies across the supply chain. The district also houses Shanghai's sole 6G industry zone, which generates approximately 24 billion yuan in annual revenue. With an aim to boost this sector, Songjiang has set a target of achieving more than 5 billion yuan in sales from space-computing and related industries by 2030, in line with Beijing's goal to position China as a leading space power.\n\nThis initiative is part of a broader strategy outlined in China's latest five-year plan, emphasizing the importance of satellite internet as a foundational digital infrastructure. Beyond enhancing space computing capabilities, other priorities identified include expanding commercial space manufacturing and launch capacity, as well as advancing lunar and deep-space exploration efforts. Shanghai is not alone in its pursuit of this sector; neighboring Zhejiang province is home to Zhejiang Lab, which is spearheading the Three-Body Computing Constellation – a satellite cluster designed to perform data processing in space.",
  "summary": "As China ramps up its efforts to build an orbital data ecosystem and counter the US in the commercial space race, Shanghai – home to several major domestic players – has kicked off an inaugural space-computing forum alongside a new industry hub. The dedicated centre in the city’s southwestern Songjiang district, unveiled at the forum on Sunday, brought together aerospace developers, semiconductor…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "As China-US space race heats up, Shanghai unveils space-computing hub",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/as-china-us-space-race-heats-up-shanghai-unveils-space-computing-hub",
        "published": "2026-08-31T09:30:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}