Seizing trategic high ground of space computing power: Global competition landscape and China’s path

Authors

• Yan CHEN, School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, ChinaFollow
• Wenbin SONG, School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, ChinaFollow
• Ping ZHANG, School of Information and Communication Engineering, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China

Keywords

space computing power, commercial aerospace, satellite computing, data center

Abstract

The deep integration of artificial intelligence and commercial aerospace is accelerating the transformation of space computing power from conceptual exploration to engineering verification, becoming a key direction for building an integrated space-air-ground information infrastructure. This study delves into its strategic value, global landscape, industrial chain bottlenecks, and advancement paths. The research reveals that the core value of space computing power does not lie in replacing ground data centers, but rather in focusing on network coverage blind spots, data transmission limitations, and high-timeliness scenarios, providing a new supply model of “in-orbit computing + space-ground collaboration”. Currently, the world has entered a parallel stage of engineering verification and commercial layout. The United States has established a first-mover advantage by leveraging its mature commercial system, while Europe is promoting extraterrestrial data centers under the guidance of the Green Deal and digital sovereignty. China, driven by the new national system, is accelerating the layout of an integrated space-air-ground information network. In response to the challenges China faces, such as the high launch costs and the performance limitations of high-performance chip ecosystems, satellite manufacturing, and inter-satellite communication, as well as the commercial closed-loop challenges of ground facilities, and application ecosystems, this study proposes that China should leverage the advantages of the new national system to coordinate the development of national and commercial aerospace, systematically fill industrial chain gaps to build an independent and controllable ecosystem, seize the strategic high ground of frequency and orbit resources to enhance international discourse power, and foster application ecosystems and close the value loop through innovative business models. At the same time, a dynamic assessment mechanism should be established to ensure risk control, thereby promoting the stable and high-quality development of the space computing power industry.

First page

1028

Last Page

1039

Language

Chinese

Publisher

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

References

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Recommended Citation

CHEN, Yan; SONG, Wenbin; and ZHANG, Ping (2026) "Seizing trategic high ground of space computing power: Global competition landscape and China’s path," Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version): Vol. 41 : Iss. 5 , Article 18.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3724/j.issn.1000-3045.20260205002
Available at: https://bulletinofcas.researchcommons.org/journal/vol41/iss5/18