WENCHANG, China — A massive satellite manufacturing complex at the Wenchang International Aerospace City (WIAC) is set to commence operations, establishing a production line capable of outputting 1,000 satellites annually.
According to a Dec. 7 statement from the facility’s operators, the “super factory” is designed to support the rapid deployment of China’s “Thousand Sails” (Qianfan) low Earth orbit constellation. The site functions as Asia’s largest satellite manufacturing hub and is the only facility in China currently equipped for both satellite assembly and satellite-rocket encapsulation within a single complex.
Infrastructure and Integration The facility’s architecture is built around a “components in, integrated systems out” model. It comprises one primary manufacturing plant, a dedicated testing and inspection center, and eight core unit development centers.
The strategic location in Hainan allows for immediate transfer of finished satellites to the launch pads at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site. This proximity is intended to reduce logistical risks and shorten the timeline between final assembly and orbit.
Program Context The activation of the Wenchang hub marks a significant scaling of industrial capacity for the G60/Thousand Sails program, which aims to deploy more than 15,000 broadband satellites. Earlier phases of the constellation relied on manufacturing infrastructure in Shanghai, where contractors like Genesat outlined Phase 2 expansion plans in April 2025.
The opening also follows a surge in launch activity at the adjacent spaceport. On Dec. 6, China executed a commercial launch of the Long March 8A from Wenchang, deploying an earlier batch of internet satellites and validating the site’s commercial throughput capabilities.
WIAC officials confirmed the first satellite is scheduled to roll off the new production line shortly, though a specific date was not disclosed. Additionally, the facility will host an international satellite data trading platform within a bonded data zone, leveraging the Hainan Free Trade Port’s regulatory framework to attract global data resources.
