First satellite made in Xiongan enters orbit

(ECNS) -- The Honghu-03 satellite, China’s first satellite made in Xiong’an New Area, was successfully launched into orbit aboard a Zhuque3 Y2 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone.

The satellite, designed as a technology verification satellite for large-scale satellite internet networking by Hong Qing, a satellite tech company based in Xiong’an, integrates Hongqing’s independently developed systems.

It marks the first time that the company’s three core satellite subsystems — the Jinwu propulsion system, Chiyu energy system and Baize electronic system — have been deployed together in orbit.

The successful mission demonstrates Xiong’an’s growing capabilities in aerospace information technology and satellite internet development, supporting China’s efforts to achieve satellite mass production and applications.

In 2025, Hongqing completed an automated satellite production line in Xiong’an, adopting a manufacturing model inspired by automobile assembly lines.

According to Hongqing, the production line has an automation rate of over 70%, reducing the production cycle of a satellite by about 80%, bringing the total time from final assembly to rollout down to about 30 hours per satellite.

(By Liu Shuangjing, Zhang Dongfang)