The "Honghu 03" satellite, also known as "Xiong'an One", was recently launched into orbit aboard the Zhuque-3 reusable rocket from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Pilot Zone. As the first satellite born in the Xiong'an New Area, it was manufactured by Beijing-based tech innovator LandSpace Hongqing, highlighting the growing contribution of Beijing's science and technology enterprises to the development of aerospace information and satellite internet industries in Xiong'an.
A ten-minute drive from the Xiong'an high-speed railway station leads to the Xiong'an New Area Science and Technology Innovation Center Pilot Base, where researchers can conveniently travel between Beijing and Xiong'an. The area now features high-standard factory buildings in red, white, and blue, housing assembly and R&D bases for multiple aerospace information and satellite manufacturing companies.
In October 2024, China Satellite Network Group moved its headquarters to Xiong'an, becoming a central anchor in the aerospace information industry chain and drawing upstream and downstream enterprises to this "City of the Future". An efficient satellite internet industry chain is now taking shape rapidly in the region.
Shi Yaozhong, Vice President of LandSpace Hongqing, recalled that the company's journey with Xiong'an has been brief yet remarkably productive. When the company identified the need for factory ceilings exceeding ten meters, the New Area promptly coordinated with construction units to upgrade the facilities accordingly. The initial heavy capital investment was supported by the establishment of a growth fund designated for science and technology innovation in Xiong'an. By October 22, the first satellite "Xiong'an One" had been produced, marking the achievement of setup, construction, and initial production within a single year.
The "Xiong'an One" satellite integrates dozens of advanced technologies, including an argon-fueled electric propulsion system and an actively pumped loop heat pipe thermal control solution, overcoming significant challenges in satellite energy, power, and computing capabilities. Shi Yaozhong noted that satellite production previously required frequent trips to research institutes in Beijing and Shanghai, but now most testing can be completed within the local park. The close connection between satellite manufacturing and testing verification has made Xiong'an both a production hub and a pilot testing base. "We will leverage the advantages of both Beijing and Xiong'an to build more reliable satellites with optimized costs," he added.
The successful satellite launch also reflects the coordinated efforts of the entire industry chain. "Our aircraft is also scheduled for its first flight in the third quarter of this year; 'Honghu 03' has set an example for us," said Bai Junbiao, Deputy General Manager of Xiong'an Future Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd. Just next door to Hongqing, Future Aerospace is constructing a 5,000-square-meter clean workshop for its space vehicle assembly, integration, and testing facility. The company is developing the Fengxing series of space vehicles, the first commercial aircraft in China designed for satellite constellation networking and on-orbit services, enabling batch production in the near future.
Headquartered in Beijing's Haidian District, Future Aerospace registered its subsidiary in Xiong'an in 2018. Bai Junbiao described the decision as a "two-way commitment", noting that the New Area's robust support in aerospace information industry development and infrastructure coordination facilitated their move. The company's independently developed space vehicles offer autonomous orbital flight and long-term station-keeping capabilities, earning them the industry nickname "space tugboats".
"Think of launch vehicles as high-speed rail carrying satellites to space," Bai explained, "while our space vehicles act as shuttle buses, delivering satellites to their designated orbital positions, addressing the 'last kilometer' of satellite networking." The Fengxing series can serve orbits ranging from 200 kilometers to 36,000 kilometers across low, medium, and geostationary orbits, adapt to various rocket types, and provide long-term on-orbit services. The vehicles can even refuel satellites in space, functioning like a "4S shop" for orbital maintenance. Once production ramps up, Future Aerospace aims to achieve an annual capacity of 60 space vehicles.
To strengthen industrial support, the Pilot Base has established a shared satellite manufacturing hub and satellite testing center, allowing smaller tech firms to avoid the high costs of building their own facilities. At the same site, the distinctive blue signage of Beijing Frontier Deep Space Technology Co., Ltd. marks its satellite internet antenna manufacturing center. Founded in 2017 and focusing on low-orbit satellite internet, the company is setting up its phased array antenna intelligent manufacturing center in Xiong'an, with equipment commissioning underway and mass production expected by late September.
Wang Qian, head of government affairs for the Xiong'an subsidiary of Beijing Frontier Deep Space, explained that phased array antennas are core components of satellite payloads, often compared to a satellite's "brain". Unlike traditional mechanically steered dish antennas, phased array antennas use electronic scanning to rapidly switch between satellites, making them ideal for low-orbit satellite internet communications. The new manufacturing center replaces manual assembly with a fully automated production line, handling everything from material feeding and dispensing to screw fastening and visual inspection without human intervention. Each line can produce approximately 1,500 units monthly.
"Beijing focuses on R&D while Xiong'an handles transformation and production," Wang Qian noted. "This division creates a comprehensive loop from development to manufacturing to delivery." Beijing universities, including Beijing Jiaotong University, are also expected to provide research support in Xiong'an to accelerate technology iteration. The upcoming 2026 Aerospace Information and Satellite Internet Innovation Conference, scheduled for September in Xiong'an, will provide further opportunities for industry collaboration and customer engagement.
With 69 aerospace enterprises like China Satellite Network Group and Hongqing Tech converging in the New Area, supported by nine innovation platforms including the Xiong'an Aerospace Information Research Institute and the Xiong'an Aerospace Laboratory, Xiong'an New Area is forging a model of application-driven, platform-supported aerospace information industry development, linking Beijing's technological strengths with the "City of the Future".