# Orbital Chenguang

**Type:** Orbital data center startup (state-backed)
**Status:** Development phase
**Location:** China
**Backing:** Beijing Astro-future Institute of Space Technology (backed by Beijing municipal science and technology commission and Zhongguancun Science Park administration)

## Overview

Orbital Chenguang is a Chinese orbital data center startup distinct from the Three-Body Computing Constellation. The company is developing space-based computing infrastructure with a two-phase program spanning 2025-2030.

## Funding

- **2026-04-03:** Secured strategic credit lines totaling 57.7 billion yuan ($8.4 billion) from 12 major Chinese financial institutions including Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, and Bank of Communications
- 24-organization consortium spanning the industrial chain

## Technical Approach

- Sun-synchronous orbit for near-continuous solar power and passive thermal cooling
- Goal: enable data center workloads "at a scale impractical on the ground"
- Thermal management at scale remains unsolved

## Program Timeline

- **Phase 1 (2025-2027):** Core technology development + first constellation launch
- **Phase 2 (2028-2030):** Integration of Earth-based data processing with space-based computing

## Strategic Context

Orbital Chenguang represents China's state-backed infrastructure approach to orbital computing, distinct from the civilian/commercial Three-Body Constellation program. The $8.4B credit commitment exceeds the entire projected US ODC market size of $1.77B by 2029.

## Timeline

- **2026-04-03** — Announced $8.4B credit lines from 12 Chinese financial institutions