Recently, Galaxy Aerospace achieved the first end-to-end (Terminal to Terminal, T2T) low earth orbit satellite communication test in China on the Lingxi 03 satellite. Launched successfully on July 23, 2023, from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, this satellite is China’s first low earth orbit broadband communication satellite featuring flexible solar arrays.
This end-to-end low earth orbit satellite communication test refers to direct communication between satellite ground terminals through the satellite’s switching equipment, eliminating the need for data relay through ground relay stations. In this working mode, by eliminating the intermediate step of relay stations, communication latency can be reduced by 50%, while also increasing the overall system’s flexibility and availability.
The digital payload carried by the Lingxi 03 satellite, from phased array antennas to digital hardware units and digital signal processing software, has all been independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace. The phased array antennas use a new spiral array layout technique and a hybrid beamforming antenna architecture, resulting in more concentrated multi-beam energy, reduced signal interference, higher integration, and a smaller footprint. In addition, the hardware facilities have been significantly optimized in terms of weight, volume, size, and functionality.
Zhu Zhengxian, Chief Technology Officer of Galaxy Aerospace, explained that typically, for users to successfully access the internet via satellite, they need to connect to the satellite through satellite terminals and relay the satellite’s data to the ground public network through ground relay stations. The significance of this test lies in providing a more flexible mode for satellite communication. In remote areas such as polar regions and remote oceans, satellite communication can be established even without ground relay station coverage.
