Hongyan 1 is a prototype satellite for CASC's +300 satellite Hongyan broad-band LEO communications constellation.
The first Hongyan satellite was launched on a CZ-2D (2) YZ-3 rocket and went into a 1100-kilometer orbit to test L- and Ka-band communications technologies.
Nine Hongyan satellites were be launched by 2020 to test the system, which ultimately will comprise 320 satellites. A factory able to produce as many as 130 Hongyan satellites a year has been built in the Chinese port city of Tianjin.
Despite of massive deployment plans, no further launches followed. In 2020, the project was merged with the competing Hongyun to a new mega constellation project called Guowang.
.png)
