Microsatellites set to blast off for success

Falling costs and rapid development mean the sector is becoming increasingly viable for private operators. Cheng Yingqi reports.

While the accomplishments of China's microsatellite industry have recently been overshadowed by the success of the nation's manned space program, the sector has developed so rapidly that the cost of providing commercial services has fallen to a level where the use of small satellites is now within the range of private companies.

Microsatellites, usually weighing less than 500 kilograms, are of lower mass and size than traditional craft, such as those used by the military, which use customized parts to ensure complete reliability. By contrast, the components used in microsatellites, which have less stringent standards of dependability, can be bought at hardware stores, making them perfect for commercial use.