A look at Hainan's collab with HK universities in space tech

China’s commercial space industry is expanding rapidly, with Hainan emerging as a key launch hub. Companies there are also working with universities in Hong Kong, exploring new opportunities in space technology and research.

In Haikou, capital of China’s southern island province of Hainan, a high-tech industrial park is home to a growing number of space companies. One of them, Changguang Satellite Technology, develops remote-sensing satellites. Since 2018, it has launched 161 Jilin-1 satellites, capable of capturing high-resolution images from space.

Three years ago, the company began working with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology to develop the HKUST-Xiongbin-1 satellite. Now in orbit, it can capture images across the Greater Bay Area and provide data for coping with climate change.

A company representative say it hopes to expand cooperation with Hong Kong universities and explore commercial uses for remote-sensing data.

Hainan is also developing its commercial rocket launch industry. This launch site in Wenchang began construction in 2020 and entered commercial operation in 2024. So far, 21 rockets have been launched here. Its location closer to the equator allows rockets to make better use of the Earth’s rotation and carry more payload. A second phase is now under construction, with launches expected by the end of this year and more launch pads planned along the coast.