Diamond Constellation

History

2024: Satellite Launch

On December 12, 2024, China launched several spacecraft designed to test inter-satellite laser communication channels. The Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said the satellites were successfully launched into orbit.

The Changzheng-2D rocket (Long March 2D) with the Yuanzheng-3 upper stage (Yuanzheng-3) was launched from the Jiuquan cosmodrome. The payload was five satellites forming a "high-speed laser test system" called Diamond Constellation. Although CASC does not disclose the technical characteristics of these devices, they are known to be aimed at testing laser data transmission lines.

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CASC

The American Space Observation System tracks five launch-related payloads: They are located in different orbits. One satellite is in orbit with an altitude of 988 × 1160 km, the other - 791 × 812 km. Three more spacecraft were launched into orbit with an altitude of approximately 975 × 990 km. They all have an inclination of 59.9 degrees.

Inter-satellite laser communication channels, as noted, can be involved in major space projects in China, such as the national group Guowang and the Shanghai-backed group Qianfan/Thousand Sails. The use of laser communications will partially solve the problem of limited global coverage of PRC ground stations.

Beijing is actively developing a national space program, developing meteorological, telecommunications and navigation satellites and technologies designed to explore the moon. And in 2023, Changguang Satellite, a subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Sciences dedicated to commercial remote sensing, demonstrated laser communication between space and Earth.^[1]

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