Chinese aerospace giant to launch 156 mini-satellites

A Chinese aerospace giant on Friday announced plans for a network of 156 mini-satellites to facilitate global broadband coverage. This is the first low orbiting networked satellite project, which will orbit 1,000 km above the ground, developed by China amid its wider push for commercial space development, the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) said. "The network is a general satellite platform," said a CASIC engineer, who added that add-ons and upgrades were being explored. Small satellites are easy to mass produce and upgrade at low cost.