Qianfan (Spacesail)

BPrivate (state/municipal-backed)Founded 2018🇨🇳Shanghai, China

CEO

Dr. Jason Zheng (President)

Overview

Qianfan (千帆, also branded internationally as SPACESAIL) is China's first commercial LEO mega-constellation to enter formal network deployment. Operated by Shanghai Spacesail Technologies, the program launched its first batch in August 2024 and reached 162 satellites in orbit after the ninth 18-satellite mission on May 17, 2026. The company is targeting 324 satellites in orbit and initial global coverage during 2026, with a longer-term three-stage roadmap of 648 satellites for regional coverage, another 648 for broader global coverage, and a total constellation of nearly 15,000 satellites.

Main Products

Qianfan Constellation

In Development

China's first commercial LEO mega-constellation in formal network deployment. The system is being built in phases: 648 satellites for regional coverage, another 648 for broader global coverage, and a long-term total of nearly 15,000 satellites. The ninth batch launch on May 17, 2026 took the network to 162 satellites in orbit, with deployments currently flying in 18-satellite batches.

162 satellites are in orbit after nine batch launches. The 2026 objective is 324 satellites in orbit and initial global coverage, while Phase 1 regional coverage requires 648 satellites.

Satellites in Orbit162

2026 In-Orbit Target324 satellites

Phase 1 Regional Coverage648 satellites

Planned TotalNearly 15,000 satellites

Deployment Cadence18 satellites per launch

What's Next

Reach 324 satellites and initial global coverage

Continue the 2026 deployment push toward 324 satellites in orbit, which management now frames as the threshold for initial global coverage.

2026

Complete the 648-satellite Phase 1 regional network

Scale from the 2026 initial-coverage target toward the first 648-satellite deployment block that underpins sustained regional broadband service.

Post-2026

Scale toward a nearly 15,000-satellite network

Expand beyond the first two 648-satellite phases into the long-term megaconstellation buildout aimed at nearly 15,000 satellites worldwide.

2030

Operations & Revenue

StatusActive

162 satellites are in orbit after the May 17, 2026 ninth batch launch. Ground control infrastructure is in place, and SPACESAIL is targeting 324 satellites in orbit plus initial global coverage during 2026.

Revenue Streams

Broadband Internet Services

Low-latency satellite broadband services for global users across consumer, enterprise, and industry connectivity use cases.

Telecom Wholesale, D2D, and IoT Solutions

Operator-partnered LEO services including direct-to-device communications, satellite-based IoT capabilities, and related connectivity solutions for regional telecom markets.

Key Metrics

Employees

Not publicly disclosed

Est. Annual Revenue

Pre-revenue / pre-commercial at scale

Satellites in Orbit

162

2026 In-Orbit Target

324 satellites

Phase 1 Target

648 satellites

Planned Constellation

Nearly 15,000 satellites

Disclosed Funding

6.7B yuan+

Timeline

2026Ninth batch lifts total to 162; 2026 coverage push underway

A Long March 8 launches another 18-satellite batch on May 17, 2026, bringing the constellation to 162 satellites in orbit. Management says Qianfan is targeting 324 satellites in orbit and initial global coverage during 2026.

2025Sixth batch launched; constellation reaches 108 satellites

Deployment continues through 2025, culminating in the sixth 18-satellite batch launched on October 17, 2025. The mission brings Qianfan/SPACESAIL to 108 satellites in orbit.

2024First 3 batches launched — 54 satellites in orbit

Batch 1 (18 satellites) launches on August 6, 2024 aboard a Long March 6A — the first deployment. Batch 2 follows on October 15 and Batch 3 on December 5, 2024. All launches successful, bringing the total to 54 satellites.

2023Program announced via Shanghai Action Plan

The Shanghai Municipal Government announces the Qianfan constellation as part of its industrial action plan. Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) begins assembling the first flat panel satellites in December 2023.

Funding

Round	Date	Amount	Investors	Source
Series A	Feb 2024	6.7B yuan (~$930M)	National Manufacturing Transformation and Upgrading Fund-led syndicate including Shanghai Alliance Investment, Shanghai Guosheng Capital, Hengxu Capital, CASSTAR, and others
Series A+	Dec 2025	Undisclosed	Shangchuang Xinde Investment, Meilanhu Investment, Xinding Capital, and Xinwei Group