{
  "id": 5773397,
  "title": "China launches plan for 3D satellite network to monitor sun and cosmic explosions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/china-launches-plan-for-3d-satellite-network-to-monitor-sun-and",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-05T13:00:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3366483/china-launches-plan-3d-satellite-network-monitor-sun-and-cosmic-explosions"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China has initiated an international endeavor to construct a three-dimensional satellite network orbiting Earth and the moon. This network, led by the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, aims to monitor solar activity and investigate powerful cosmic explosions. The initiative plans to launch 30 miniature satellite units, or CubeSats, into highly elliptical orbits around our planet over the next four years.\n\nThe satellite constellation will address a global gap in systematic observations of cislunar space - the region extending from low-Earth orbit to approximately 2 million km from Earth. This area is becoming increasingly significant for future human activities and the construction of lunar bases. Currently, scientists have relied on individual spacecraft to study this expansive region, leaving many areas unexplored. However, with dozens of satellites observing simultaneously from different locations, researchers can track solar particles and magnetic disturbances as they traverse the region, providing insights into space weather development.\n\nAdditionally, a separate group of CubeSats will orbit the moon to search for valuable lunar resources. While further details on this aspect remain undisclosed, the project's overarching goal is to expand human knowledge of deep space and the universe. China will provide participating countries with free instruments to detect high-energy particles, measure magnetic fields, and identify gamma-ray bursts, which are immensely powerful flashes from violent events in distant universes.\n\nCollaborative missions, shared costs, and joint data sharing will be managed jointly by participating nations. China will supply free detection instruments, and technical training and common engineering standards will be offered to assist developing countries in playing a more prominent role in deep-space exploration.\n\nHu Chaobin, deputy director of the laboratory, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, \"We look forward to working with partners around the world to expand the boundaries of human knowledge of deep space and the universe.\"\n\nThe project aligns with China's broader efforts to strengthen international partnerships in deep-space research. At the conference's opening ceremony, the laboratory announced the establishment of joint research centers with Thailand's National Astronomical Research Institute and Serbia's Astronomical Observatory. These centers will focus on lunar robots, miniature spacecraft, planetary science, and the study of the moon, planets, sun, space environment, asteroids, and other small bodies. Both centers will engage in joint research projects, scientific exchanges, and the training of young scientists and engineers, further bolstering science and technology cooperation under China's Belt and Road Initiative.",
  "summary": "China has started an international project to build a three-dimensional satellite network between Earth and the moon that will track solar activity and study some of the universe’s most powerful explosions. The project plans to send 30 backpack-sized CubeSats into highly elliptical orbits around Earth in the next four years or so, according to the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, which will…",
  "key_points": [
    "China launches 3D satellite network to monitor sun and cosmic explosions",
    "30 CubeSats to orbit Earth and moon over next four years",
    "Project aims to expand human knowledge of deep space and universe"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "China launches plan for 3D satellite network to monitor sun and cosmic explosions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/china-launches-plan-for-3d-satellite-network-to-monitor-sun-and-5774611",
        "published": "2026-09-05T13:00:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}