CITIC Construction Investment Insight: Rocket Cost Reductions Spark a New Era in Commercial Space, Flexible Solar Arrays Set the Latest Tech Trend
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Author:小编   

According to a research report from CITIC Construction Investment, global low-Earth orbit satellite resources are limited and allocated on a 'first-come, first-served' basis, leading to intensified competition for satellite networking. SpaceX has ambitious plans to deploy over one million satellites, while China's three major constellations—Xingwang, Qianfan, and Hongqing—have collectively planned for nearly 40,000 satellites. Under the time constraints imposed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), all stakeholders are ramping up their efforts to secure frequency and orbital resources. Reusable rocket technology has emerged as the key catalyst for accelerating industry growth, with numerous domestic rockets undergoing rigorous reuse tests. SpaceX's V3 Starship is anticipated to achieve substantial reductions in launch costs. Among all segments of the satellite industry chain, solar arrays stand out as the area most certain to experience cost increases, given the rising power demands of individual satellites, which have led to a significant expansion in array size. Currently, gallium arsenide remains the dominant solution. However, its price continues to climb due to the scarcity of gallium and germanium resources, as well as export controls. Alternative solutions, such as P-type HJT crystalline silicon and perovskite, offer supplementary options. Given the abundance of silicon materials and the lack of patent restrictions, these alternatives are more economically feasible for large-scale production overseas. Notably, SpaceX has already adopted the crystalline silicon solution.