BEIJING: China has successfully put into service its first high-speed laser communication satellite, after completing a key test, officials said today.
The high-orbit satellite,
Shijian-13, has (successfully) completed a two-way high-speed laser communication test between the satellite and the ground, the first of its kind in the world, the
China National Space Administration said in a statement.
"Besides, serving users in China, the satellite will connect communication base stations in remote areas and meet the needs of distance education, digital news gathering, and emergency communication," Li Feng, chief satellite designer at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said.
Shijian-13, launched from
Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2017, has a transfer capacity of 20 Gbps and a designed orbital life of 15 years, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
