How many satellite factories are there in China? What is the production capacity? Can it meet existing satellite needs?
Today let’s talk about: How many satellite factories are there in China?
01
58 satellite factories
According to Nihao Space statistics, China currently has 58 satellite factories. Among them, 37 have been put into operation, 13 are under construction and 8 are under planning. As shown in the figure: According to the commissioning status of the satellite factory, it is divided into put into production, under construction and planning, the details are as follows: 1. Already in production (37): Shanghai Micro-Lingang Satellite Development Base, Shanghai Micro-Satellite Assembly Plant, Small Satellite Production Line of the Space Engineering General Department of the Second Academy of Science and Technology, China Commercial Star Tianjin Production Line, Zhongke Xiguang Xixian AIT Factory, Shanghai Lizheng Satellite Commercial Satellite AIT Implementation Center, Geely Satellite Super Factory, Gerth Information Satellite Factory, Gerth Aerospace G60 Satellite Star Digital Factory, Seth Base Zhuji Aerospace Intelligent Manufacturing Base, Zhongxing Zhilian Satellite Factory, Intercontinental Space Satellite Manufacturing Center, Gongda Satellite R&D Test Headquarters Base, Galaxy Aerospace Nantong Satellite Smart Factory, Tianzhang Satellite Smart Manufacturing Base, Jiutian MSI Satellite R&D and Manufacturing Base, Tianyi Research Institute Satellite Factory, Mianyang Tianyi Fucheng Satellite Factory, Micro-Nano Star Haidian AIT Industry Factory, Micro-Nano Star Changping Satellite Assembly Base, Shanghai Xantian Qianhe Satellite Manufacturing Factory, NationStar Aerospace Jiaxing Satellite Pilot Base, NationStar Aerospace Chengdu AIT Center, Zhixing Space Satellite R&D Intelligent Manufacturing Headquarters Base, Fifth Aerospace Academy Satellite Flexible Pulsating Production Line, Changguang Satellite Aerospace Information Industrial Park, Sederet Satellite Intelligent AIT Factory, Jinhua Zero-Gravity Satellite Factory, Jun Tianhang Haidian Satellite AIT Production Line, Shenzhen Dongfanghong Satellite AIT Hall, Galaxy Aerospace Shanghai Satellite Demonstration Line, 812th Aerospace Academy’s 812 Satellite AIT Final Assembly and Testing Plant, Rubik’s Cube Satellite Chongqing Satellite Production Base, Xingyun Satellite Science and Technology Park Satellite Factory, Novi Beidou Intelligent Flexible Satellite Manufacturing Factory, Hunan Aerospace Satellite Production Base, Zipline Aerospace Large Satellite Headquarters. 2. Under construction (13): Hainan Wenchang Satellite Super Factory, Gerth Aerospace Wuxi Manufacturing Base, Guangdong Xingrui Satellite Intelligent Manufacturing Production Line, Jigang Group Satellite Assembly Base, Rubik’s Cube Smart Satellite Factory, Rubik’s Cube Flexible Satellite R&D and Manufacturing Base, Oriental Spaceport Satellite Data Industry Park satellite factory, Tianyi Huayu commercial aerospace equipment industry manufacturing base, micro-nano star commercial satellite intelligent production line, Juntian Aerospace SAR satellite R&D and production base and data center, Weixing Technology satellite development base, Hongqing Technology intelligent satellite test demonstration production line, elliptical space-time intelligent satellite intelligent manufacturing base. 3. Under planning (8 companies): Gesi Aerospace Second Factory, Zhongke Xiguang Hyperspectral Satellite Manufacturing Base, Tianwei Technology Micro Satellite Production Line, Gengyu Muxing Satellite Production Base, Elliptical Space-time Navigation and Remote Comprehensive Satellite Intelligent Manufacturing Base, Hongqing Technology Satellite Manufacturing Project, National Star Aerospace Satellite R&D and Manufacturing Center, Zhongke Ruige Flexible Satellite Intelligent Manufacturing Base.
02
Satellite factory introduction
Next, let’s take a look at the overview of the above-mentioned factories: 1. Already in production (37) Shanghai Micro-Lingang Satellite Development Base: Located in the Lingang Park of the Micro-Satellite Innovation Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, it has 7 satellite assembly halls and a satellite smart factory, with an annual output of more than 50 ton-class satellites or 300 micro-satellites. Shanghai microsatellite assembly plant: located in the Zhangjiang Park of the Microsatellite Innovation Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with an annual output of 10 ton-class satellites. In 2024, Shanghai Micro will launch a total of 70 satellites. The small satellite production line of the Space Engineering General Department of the Second Academy of Science and Technology: Located in Wuhan Satellite Industrial Park, it is my country’s first small satellite intelligent production line. From the first satellite rolling off the assembly line in May 2021 to the end of 2024, it has completed the final assembly, integration, and testing of more than 50 satellites, and can produce 300 flat-panel configuration satellites annually. China Commercial Satellite Tianjin Production Line: China Aerospace Science and Technology Group Commercial Satellite Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Xiongan New District and has production bases in Hainan and Tianjin. The Tianjin satellite production line has been completed and put into operation, with an annual production capacity of more than 100 satellites. In 2024, about 30 satellites were produced. Zhongke Xiguang Xixian AIT Factory: Xi’an Zhongke Xiguang Aerospace Xixian AIT Factory is located in Xixian New District, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. It can produce 10 satellites per year and has launched 8 satellites since its launch in 2021. Shanghai Lizheng Satellite Commercial Satellite AIT Implementation Center: Located in Minhang District, Shanghai, it has two 100,000-level AIT clean factories with an annual output of 20 satellites. A pulsating production line will be built in the future, with an annual batch production of up to 50 satellites. Geely Satellite Super Factory: Located in Taizhou, Zhejiang, it is operated by Taizhou Xingkong Zhilian Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Spacetime Daoyu. It is the world’s first satellite mass production factory that deeply integrates aerospace manufacturing and automobile manufacturing capabilities. It is also my country’s first commercial satellite intelligent AIT center. It has been approved by the National Development and Reform Commission and has an annual production capacity of 500 satellites. Gesi Information Satellite Factory: Located in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, it carries out mass production through the satellite pulsating assembly production line. It has completed the assembly and test services of more than 100 satellites, and the annual output of satellites has reached 300. So far, 36 satellites have been successfully launched. Gerth Aerospace G60 Satellite Digital Factory: Located in Songjiang, Shanghai, it is the first digital “lighthouse factory” for satellite intelligent manufacturing in the Yangtze River Delta. It has been approved by the National Development and Reform Commission and can produce one satellite in as little as one day, with an annual output of 300 satellites. It is expected that by 2026, the annual output will reach 500-600 pieces. Sethbest Zhuji Aerospace Intelligent Manufacturing Base: Located in Zhuji, Zhejiang, it has AIT and corresponding test supporting capabilities with an annual output of 200 satellites. On July 22, 2023, its independently developed domestic first ultra-low orbit technology test satellite “Qiankun-1” was successfully launched. Zhongxing Zhilian Satellite Factory: Located in Zhuji, Zhejiang, it has full-chain development capabilities from components to complete satellites. It can cover 10-80 kg satellites and has an annual output of 200 satellites. Intercontinental Space Satellite Manufacturing Center: Located in Sai Kung District, Hong Kong, it will be completed in July 2023. It has the capacity to produce 10-1,000 kilograms, multiple types and multiple satellites in parallel, with an annual output of 200 satellites. It will subsequently promote the global manufacturing layout and increase its production capacity to 500 satellites. From March 10 to 13, 2025, Intercontinental Aerospace successfully held the Hong Kong stop of the 100-Star Tour, displaying the first batch of 100 mass-produced satellites since the launch of production. Gongda Satellite R&D and Test Headquarters Base: Located in Harbin, Heilongjiang, it can produce 180 500-kilogram satellites annually. It has been approved by the National Development and Reform Commission. It has successfully completed 10 launches of 24 satellites and has undertaken the development and mass production of more than 100 satellites. Galaxy Aerospace Nantong Satellite Smart Factory: Located in Nantong, Jiangsu, it is my country’s first satellite smart manufacturing factory with complete research qualifications based in the Yangtze River Delta region. It has been approved by the National Development and Reform Commission and can produce 100-150 medium-sized satellites annually. More than 20 satellites have been successfully launched so far. Galaxy Aerospace Shanghai Satellite Demonstration Line: Satellite verification production line with an annual production capacity of more than 20 satellites. Tianzhang Satellite Intelligent Manufacturing Base: Located in Hebi, Henan, it is Henan’s first satellite manufacturing base approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, with an annual output of 100 satellites. At present, the first phase of the satellite manufacturing base has been completed, and the second phase is an intelligent production line. It plans to manufacture 22 satellites in 2025. Jiutian MSI Satellite R&D and Manufacturing Base: Located in Tangshan, Hebei Province, it is the first private satellite factory in China approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, with an annual output of 100 satellites. At present, Jiutian MSI has launched a total of 10 satellites. After 2022, no satellites have been launched, satellite factory dynamics have not been updated, and founder Xie Tao has been included in the list of dishonest persons. Tianyi Research Institute Satellite Factory: Located in Changsha, Hunan, it can produce 50 cubesats and 10 500kg flat-panel foldable satellites annually. So far, it has launched 31 satellites through 19 missions. Mianyang Tianyi Fucheng Satellite Factory: Located in Mianyang, Sichuan, it is the first flat-panel intelligent satellite R&D base in Southwest China and can produce 20 SAR satellites annually. Micro-Nano Starry Haidian AIT Factory: Located in Haidian, Beijing, it has the capability to develop complete satellites and components for 10-kilogram-2-ton satellites, with an annual output of up to 50 satellites. Micro-Nano Star Changping Satellite Assembly Base: Located in Changping, Beijing, the production capacity has not been disclosed. So far, Micro-Nano Star has launched 25 satellites and has 30-40 satellites under development. Shanghai Xantian Qianhe Satellite Manufacturing Factory: Located in Songjiang, Shanghai, with an annual output of 50 satellites, it plans to complete the development and launch of 12 satellites in 2025. Nationstar Aerospace Jiaxing Satellite Pilot Base: Located in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, it has 2 customized production lines and 1 mass production line, and can produce 20 satellites below 500 kg per year. Nationstar Aerospace Chengdu AIT Center: Located in Chengdu, Sichuan, it supports the development of satellites below 500 kilograms. The production capacity has not been announced. So far, NationStar Aerospace has completed 14 space missions and launched 22 satellites. Zhixing Space Satellite R&D and Intelligent Manufacturing Headquarters Base: Located in Suangu Industrial Park, Jinan, Shandong Province, with undisclosed production capacity. So far, Zhixing Space has completed the development and launch of 4 satellites. The fifth aerospace institute’s satellite flexible pulsating production line: located in Tianjin Binhai New Area, has an annual production capacity of more than 200 satellites and can achieve the production of 4-5 satellites per week. Changguang Satellite Aerospace Information Industrial Park: Located in Changchun, Jilin, it has the ability to produce more than 200 satellites annually. So far, it has developed and launched a total of 219 satellites of various types. Sederet Satellite Intelligent AIT Factory: Located in Zhuzhou, Hunan, it is Hunan’s first pulsating microsatellite intelligent manufacturing production line approved by the National Development and Reform Commission. It can produce more than 150 50-500kg small satellites per year. On April 10, 2025, the first satellite “XR-11” was officially offline and is scheduled to be launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in May. Jinhua Zero-Gravity Satellite Factory: Zero-Gravity Space’s satellite factory is located in Jinhua, Zhejiang. It has an annual planned satellite production capacity of more than 100 satellites. By the end of 2024, 14 satellites have been successfully launched and 33 production orders have been scheduled. Juntian Aerospace Haidian Satellite AIT Production Line: Located in Haidian, Beijing, it is an optical, SAR, and communication satellite final assembly and testing AIT production line with an annual output of more than 30 remote sensing and communication small satellites. Shenzhen Dongfanghong Satellite AIT Hall: Located in Shenzhen, Guangdong, it has complete AIT infrastructure and can produce more than 20 microsatellites annually. The Satellite AIT Final Assembly and Testing Plant of the 812th Aerospace Institute: Located in Minhang District, Shanghai, it is the largest spacecraft AIT base in East China. It is responsible for the system-level integration and testing of my country’s “Fengyun” series, “Jianxi” series, “Remote Sensing” series and other series of satellites. The production capacity is not disclosed. Rubik’s Cube Satellite Chongqing Satellite Production Base: Located in Zuanjiang District, Chongqing, it has my country’s first automated production line for satellite core components. The annual production capacity can support the manufacturing needs of 200+ satellites. The entire satellite development capacity has not been disclosed. Xingyun Satellite Technology Park Satellite Factory: Located in Wuhan, Hubei Province, it has the development and testing capabilities of 200-kilogram communication satellites and undisclosed production capacity. Novi Beidou Intelligent Flexible Satellite Manufacturing Factory: Settled in Fengdong New City, Xixian New District, Xi’an in 2023, focusing on the development of self-research, production and supporting services for commercial small satellite clusters, with undisclosed production capacity. Hunan Hangsheng Satellite Production Base: Located in Changsha, Hunan, it has the production capacity of 5-200kg cube satellites, micro-nano satellites and micro-satellites. A total of 10 complete satellites have been delivered and launched, with undisclosed production capacity. Zipline Space Satellite Headquarters: Settled in Jinan, Shandong Province Advanced Equipment Intelligent Manufacturing Port on June 20, 2024. It is expected to develop, manufacture and launch 12 large satellites in the first phase, and 8-10 in the second phase. 2. Under construction (13) Hainan Wenchang Satellite Super Factory: The largest satellite super factory currently under construction in Asia, it is planned to be completed and put into production by the end of 2025 and ship the first satellite, which can achieve the annual production target of 1,000 satellites. Gerth Aerospace Wuxi Manufacturing Base: Construction will start in September 2024 and is expected to be put into production in early 2026. After reaching production, it can produce 300 satellites per year. Guangdong Xingrui Satellite Intelligent Manufacturing Production Line: Located in Guangzhou, Guangdong, it has passed the pre-examination by the National Development and Reform Commission. The first-phase factory has a planned production capacity of 100-150 satellites and is expected to be delivered in December 2025. Jinan Iron and Steel Group Satellite Assembly Base: Located in Jinan, Shandong Province, it has been approved by the National Development and Reform Commission to build Shandong Province’s first flexible and intelligent satellite AIT manufacturing production line. The first phase of the satellite manufacturing production line is expected to be completed around May 2025, with a planned annual production capacity of up to 100 500kg satellites. Rubik’s Cube Intelligent Satellite Factory: Located in Xichang, Sichuan, construction will begin in 2023, and the annual output will reach 100 satellites after it is put into production. Rubik’s Cube Satellite Flexible Satellite R&D and Manufacturing Base: Settled in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province in March 2024, with an annual output of 50 satellites. Oriental Spaceport Satellite Data Industrial Park Satellite Factory: Located in Haiyang, Shandong Province, it plans to produce 20 satellites per year. Tianyi Huayu Commercial Aerospace Equipment Industry Manufacturing Base: Located in Chengdu, Sichuan, construction started on March 22, 2025. After completion, the annual production capacity is expected to reach more than 300 satellites, achieving the production capacity target of one satellite per day. Micro-Nano Star Commercial Satellite Intelligent Production Line: Located in Wuxi, Jiangsu, it has been approved by the National Development and Reform Commission. After construction is completed, it will produce more than 150 satellites of 200-500 kilograms per year. Juntian Aerospace SAR Satellite R&D and Production Base and Data Center: Located in Huishan, Jiangsu Province, the main construction of the base building has been completed. After the construction is completed, it will have an annual production capacity of more than 100 commercial satellites. Weixing Technology Satellite Development Base: Located in Shengzhou, Zhejiang, it can produce more than 100 microsatellites annually. Hongqing Technology Intelligent Satellite Test Demonstration Production Line: The first domestic company to build an automated low-orbit satellite production line, it has landed in Xiongan New District. The structure has been capped and decoration and design work is in progress. The production capacity has not been disclosed. Elliptical Space-time Intelligent Satellite Intelligent Manufacturing Base: The contract was signed and landed in Bengbu, Anhui on December 31, 2024. The main construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. 3. Under planning (8 units) Gerth Aerospace’s second factory: located in Songjiang, Shanghai, mainly produces mass production of ton-level satellites. The designed annual production capacity is 150 satellites, and can also produce 300 satellites below 500 kilograms. Zhongke Xiguang Hyperspectral Satellite Manufacturing Base: signed a contract and landed in Anqing, Anhui Province on February 2, 2024, with a planned annual production capacity of 100 satellites. Tianwei Technology Microsatellite Modern Manufacturing Factory: The first batch of microsatellite production lines approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, with an annual production capacity of 100 satellites of less than 500 kilograms. Gengyu Muxing Satellite Production Base: The contract was signed and landed in Quzhou, Zhejiang on February 20, 2024, with plans to produce more than 50 300-kilogram satellites per year. Elliptical space-time navigation and remote integrated satellite intelligent manufacturing base: signed on March 3, 2022 and landed in Wuhu, Anhui Province. After completion, the annual output will be no less than 60 satellites of more than 200 kilograms. Hongqing Technology Satellite Manufacturing Project: Signed and launched in Wuxi, Jiangsu on May 30, 2024, with undisclosed production capacity. NationStar Aerospace Satellite R&D and Manufacturing Center: Plans to land in Guangzhou and Shenzhen to expand satellite research and development capabilities and manufacture satellites in batches. The production capacity has not been disclosed. Zhongke Ruige Flexible Satellite Intelligent Manufacturing Base: signed a contract and landed in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province on March 26, 2025. The specific production capacity has not been disclosed.
03
Satellite factory status analysis
1. Satellite production capacity Based on the above-mentioned published satellite production capacity, my country’s satellite production capacity will reach 5,090 by the end of 2025. If all the above satellite factories reach capacity, they can produce at least 6,820 satellites per year (only factories with published capacity are counted). According to Hello Space’s How Many Satellite Constellations Does China Have? 》Statistics, my country is expected to launch about 2,100 satellites in 2025, 15,167 satellites before 2030, and 38,410 satellites in 2035. The satellite production capacity can fully meet the needs of constellation construction. 2. Development opportunities National policy support: The 2025 “Government Work Report” clearly promotes the “safe and healthy development” of commercial aerospace, and Hainan, Shanghai and other regions have significant advantages in overlapping policies. The demand for satellites is surging: the domestic three major 10,000-satellite constellation plans (with a total scale of more than 37,000) are accelerating the deployment, and the number of satellite launches is expected to reach 2,100 in 2025, driving the transformation of satellite production from “customization” to “volume”. Global layout: Commercial companies such as Spacetime Daoyu and Galaxy Aerospace actively seek overseas cooperation. The Hainan launch site benchmarks international commercial launch standards and promotes satellite services to “go overseas.” 3. Existing problems: Overcapacity: The annual production capacity of the satellite factory currently in production has reached 3,840, far exceeding the current actual demand, and the production capacity utilization rate is insufficient. Duplicate construction: Satellite factories are being built repeatedly in many places. The satellite products produced are highly homogeneous with little difference in technology and performance. Some factories are projects that some satellite companies have returned to invest in order to obtain financing from various places. Satellite costs are high: core components (such as propulsion systems, chips, laser communication modules, etc.) rely on external procurement, insufficient demand has not yet led to large-scale mass production, factory layout is far from the launch site, which increases transportation costs, and launch costs are high. The overall cost of satellites is high. The technical level needs to be improved: SpaceX Starlink satellites adopt a highly standardized design, with high single-star integration and rapid iterative upgrades. The V2 satellite has achieved global networking through laser inter-satellite links, but domestic satellites are still lagging behind in aspects such as universal interface design and inter-satellite communication system integration. With the same communication capacity, the communication efficiency per unit weight of Starlink satellites is also higher.
Summarize
China’s commercial aerospace satellite industry, driven by policy, technology, and market, has formed a large batch production capacity to meet domestic market demand. However, there are problems such as overcapacity, duplication of construction, high costs, and backward technology. The state coordinates construction and enterprises actively expand the international market, which may be able to cope with the challenges brought by the rapid development of commercial aerospace.
