At 7:45 AM on August 19, the "Honghu 03" satellite, also known as "Xiongan No. 1," was successfully launched into orbit by a Zhuque-3 reusable carrier rocket from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone. This marks the first in-orbit satellite for Hebei's Xiongan New Area, integrating dozens of advanced technologies including an argon-fueled electric propulsion system and an innovative thermal control solution. The successful deployment signals a major milestone for Xiongan's aerospace information and satellite internet industry, completing a full cycle from research and manufacturing to in-orbit application.
The satellite's journey reflects a broader industrial chain taking shape and a city embracing its future. When China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd. registered in Xiongan in 2021 and officially relocated there in October 2024 as the first centrally-administered state-owned enterprise headquarters, it triggered a "leader effect" that attracted related businesses. As the head of Xinlianxin (Hebei Xiongan) Technology Co., Ltd. explained, being close to the industry leader accelerates product iteration, prompting his team to move to Xiongan in 2023 to focus on satellite laser communication components.
Where to start
Around the leading enterprise, Xiongan New Area established a dedicated working group for commercial aerospace and satellite internet in early 2024, followed by an industrial development plan and the founding of the China Aerospace Information and Satellite Internet Innovation Alliance in November. The ecosystem now includes 69 upstream and downstream enterprises and 9 innovation platforms, with industry consensus growing that Xiongan is the place for aerospace work. The Xiongan No. 1 satellite itself was produced by Hongqing Technology in a smart manufacturing facility within the Xiongan Science and Technology Innovation Center's pilot base, where AI-driven production lines are continuously optimized to boost efficiency and reduce costs.
Why policy support matters
When Chen Wei first arrived to start his business, the aerospace industry in Xiongan was still nascent with a weak industrial foundation. However, the new area's clear long-term planning, considerate talent policies, and full-cycle enterprise services gave him confidence. The government provided factory support, renovation took just four months, and technology special projects proactively reached out. The pilot base's construction was equally impressive, connecting innovation with industry while fostering cluster development. Today, research and development staff account for over 70% of his team, and last summer, his project won the grand prize at the "Xiongcai Cup" Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.
Since the Xiongan No. 1 satellite came off the production line, the research team at Hongqing Technology has been immersed in the pilot base, conducting over a thousand ground tests across three major categories. Despite the repeated and time-consuming nature of these tests, the team remained focused on their goal. Following the successful launch, manager Sun Dezhi and his team have already moved on to new research. The "Xiongcai 16 Measures" provide comprehensive support including housing, living allowances, and children's education, while technology innovation special funds inject capital into satellite research and industrial implementation. Competition platforms like the "Xiongcai Cup" and Xiongan Future City Scene Expo offer broad stages for innovative teams, attracting young researchers to the area.
Applications expanding across the region
In the smart construction sites of Xiongan's startup area, engineering equipment equipped with BeiDou positioning systems automatically plans routes and adjusts operations with centimeter-level accuracy. In Baiyangdian, North China's largest freshwater lake, all 1,500 vessels across 24 rural tourism docks are fitted with independent BeiDou terminals, enabling comprehensive dynamic monitoring and smart scheduling of water tourism. As a national pilot city for BeiDou large-scale applications, Xiongan is promoting aerospace information empowerment of urban construction.
Driving through the Rongdong area, drivers can seamlessly transition from surface roads into underground parking garages while navigation systems switch to detailed underground maps showing parking spaces and passages clearly. Professor Lu Zhaoming from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications explained that his team developed a new navigation system achieving closed-loop navigation between above and below ground. Since walls and floors block BeiDou signals, making underground positioning a challenge, they created a "BeiDou + 5G indoor distribution" system with an integrated management platform to solve underground travel issues and optimize above-ground spatial planning.
Beyond BeiDou, more aerospace information technologies are finding applications in Xiongan. The research team at Xinlianxin is collaborating with local payload enterprises to bring laser communication "from the sky to the ground." Since Baiyangdian's numerous scattered islands make fiber optic cable installation difficult, they are setting up laser links as substitutes, achieving transmission distances of up to 10 kilometers. As Chen Wei noted, satellite internet technology brings changes "from heaven to earth," and his team will continue developing ultra-high-speed laser communication while expanding diverse application scenarios to benefit households and businesses alike. From satellite research in the skies to scenario implementation on the ground, a group of star-chasing Xiongan innovators are building bridges connecting the galaxy with the earth.
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