With the explosive growth in demand for artificial intelligence computing power and the accelerated deployment of low-orbit satellite constellations around the world, space computing power has become a new frontier in global technological competition and is at a critical stage from technology verification to large-scale deployment.
"Space computing power involves many fields such as computing power chips, inter-satellite communications, energy supply and cooling, and satellite manufacturing." Recently, at the 2026 Space Computing Power Industry Conference held in Beijing Economic Development Zone (Yizhuang), Zhao Ce, deputy director of the Information and Communications Development Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, pointed out that space computing power has many advantages such as on-orbit real-time processing, low-cost energy, and wide-area coverage. It can help improve "days" processing efficiency, enhance space energy development capabilities, expand network application boundaries, and has strategic value and industrial prospects.
Carry out special demonstration of space intelligent computing power constellation
In recent years, my country has gradually carried out the construction and pilot verification of space computing power networks, accelerated technological research on spaceborne intelligent computing chips and inter-satellite laser communications, carried out multiple constellation networking plans in an orderly manner, conducted on-orbit verification of test satellites, steadily advanced the on-orbit deployment of large models, deepened cooperation between "industry, academia and research", and gradually built an industrial ecosystem.
Yu Guobin, deputy director of the Commercial Space Department of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, revealed at the meeting that the China National Space Administration took the lead in holding a special demonstration launch meeting and expert group meeting for the space intelligent computing power constellation, and relevant work is currently being carried out in an orderly manner.
Yu Guobin said that developing space computing power is a strategic choice to break through the bottleneck of ground computing power and ensure the sustainable development of the digital economy.
Specifically, traditional terrestrial data centers face multiple bottlenecks such as high energy consumption, tight land resources, high cooling costs, and limited coverage. They are no longer able to meet the future ultra-large-scale, green, low-carbon, and full-area coverage computing power needs. The development of space computing power can fundamentally break the energy and space constraints of terrestrial computing power and provide a zero-carbon, green, sustainable, and wide-coverage new computing power supply for the digital economy.
It is worth mentioning that the space intelligent computing power constellation can also achieve seamless global coverage and integrated interconnection of space and earth, providing real-time intelligent space-based information services for emergency disaster relief, ocean observation, aviation shipping, polar scientific research, etc.
Prospective layout to promote the development of space computing industry
"We must not only seize the potential opportunities of space computing power as an emerging industry, but also actively respond to challenges in chip performance, inter-satellite communications, energy supply and heat dissipation, strengthen system planning, make forward-looking layouts, deepen industry cultivation, further collaborate to tackle difficulties, and promote the development of the space computing power industry in a solid and orderly manner," Zhao Ce said.
He suggested deepening departmental collaboration, organizing research and judgment on technological evolution and industry trends, planning policies and measures to guide the construction and application of space computing power, and strengthening institutional guarantees.
At the same time, we will strengthen innovation drive and accelerate technological research and engineering verification. Support relevant units to actively carry out forward-looking research on space computing power technology, gradually establish a standard system covering software and hardware, network, security and other aspects, promote the research and development of spaceborne radiation-resistant chips, inter-satellite laser communications and other technologies and products, improve full-stack technical capabilities, and consolidate the foundation for industrial development.
Zhao Ce also proposed to strengthen application traction and cultivate application scenarios and service models. This includes exploring space computing power applications around real-time remote sensing processing, communication enhancement, spatio-temporal information and other scenarios, and exploring integrated service innovations in "navigation and remote computing"; supporting on-orbit data processing in fields such as low-altitude economy and emergency communications, and accelerating technology iteration and business cycles through practical scenario applications; promoting the integrated development of computing power and satellite Internet, and accelerating the ecological cultivation of the space computing power industry.
At the meeting, the "Space Computing Power Professional Committee", the industry's first space computing power industry collaboration platform, was formally established. "Space computing power is the extension and integration of terrestrial industries in space. It is the cutting-edge layout for building a global ubiquitous computing power network and will strongly support the high-quality development of applications such as artificial intelligence." Li Jie, deputy director of the Cloud Research Institute of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, said that the committee will promote relevant work around strategic research, technical research, and standard development.
In addition, the "Beijing Space Computing Power Innovation Center" was launched at the meeting to build a key technology innovation platform. The Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone also officially released the “Key Common Technology Research List of Space Computing Power”, focusing on the core links of the industrial chain and further driving technological breakthroughs based on real industry needs.
