A Beijing-based space startup has received strong financial support for plans to build computing facilities in orbit, SpaceNews reports (open copy). Beijing Orbital Twilight Technology, known as Orbital Chenguang, completed a pre-A1 funding round on April 20 with participation from several venture and industrial investors. At the same time, the company secured strategic credit lines worth 57.7 billion yuan, or about 8.4 billion U.S. dollars, from 12 major Chinese banks. These credit lines represent potential future financing rather than immediate cash.
Orbital Chenguang operates as a commercial effort linked to the Beijing Astro-future Institute of Space Technology. The institute, supported by Beijing municipal authorities and the Zhongguancun Science Park, coordinates a group of 24 organizations across the space industry. Zhang Shancong serves as director of the institute and chief scientist for the company.
Space-based data centers aim to overcome earthly limits
The project targets a large constellation of satellites in a special dawn-dusk orbit between 700 and 800 kilometers above Earth. This type of sun-synchronous orbit provides nearly constant sunlight for solar power and allows natural cooling in the cold vacuum of space. On Earth, data centers face problems such as high land use, massive electricity demand, and difficulties with cooling. A space version could reach power levels above one gigawatt, far larger than typical ground facilities.
Development is planned in stages. The first phase through 2027 focuses on solving technical challenges and launching initial satellites. Later steps include linking space computing with ground systems, with a goal of full-scale operation by 2035. An experimental satellite called Chenguang-1 was expected around late 2025 or early 2026 but has not yet launched. Similar efforts exist in China and elsewhere, including smaller computing satellite projects and international ideas for orbital data centers. All face hurdles in heat control, data transmission, and launch costs.
This initiative fits within China’s broader support for commercial space activities and national plans for advanced computing. It reflects growing interest in moving data processing off the planet to meet rising demand from artificial intelligence and other technologies.