China launches first trio of satellites to start 60-spacecraft radio tracker network

China has put three satellites into orbit that can locate radio signals from space, marking the first step toward a planned 60-satellite commercial monitoring network. The Diting-01 satellites launched Sunday aboard a Lijian-1 Y18 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. Nine satellites flew on the mission, with the three Diting spacecraft entering their planned orbit. Chang Guang Satellite Technology built the satellites, while StarRF operates the system. The startup wants to use the network to detect radio emissions across large areas from low Earth orbit. The approach has clear applications in tracking radio activity that may be difficult to locate from the ground. The three spacecraft can work together to determine where a radio signal originates. According to Chinese news portal Guancha, each satellite receives the same transmission from a different position in orbit. The system compares the arrival times across the three spacecraft. That difference allows it to estimate the transmitter’s location. It can therefore locate a source without needing a receiver close to the emitter. The setup is particularly useful for signals that move across large areas. Space-based receivers can also observe regions beyond the reach of fixed monitoring stations. Diting is named after a creature from Chinese mythology. The name refers to a beast said to identify things simply by listening. The satellites are intended to monitor electromagnetic activity rather than simply provide communications or imaging services. Their planned use covers a wide range of radio-frequency signals. StarRF wants 60 satellites StarRF launched in 2023, with a founding team that includes engineers from Tsinghua University’s Department of Electronic Engineering. Its members have also worked at Nokia, Qualcomm, and China Electronics Technology Group. The company plans to expand the three-satellite system into a 60-spacecraft constellation in low Earth orbit. StarRF says it wants to sell electromagnetic spectrum data and analysis to customers across several industries. Those include defense, public security, radio management, shipping, rail and emergency response. The business model resembles a growing commercial market outside China. US-based HawkEye 360 launched its first three-satellite formation in 2018. Its systems locate radio-frequency signals for customers that include US defense and intelligence agencies. France’s Unseenlabs also tracks radio emissions from orbit. Its early satellites focused on maritime signals before its second generation expanded coverage across sea, land and space. Growing dual-use market Radio-frequency monitoring has become closely connected to national security because the same data can serve civilian and military users. A system that locates a maritime transmitter could support commercial monitoring. Similar information could also help identify the position of a military emitter. That overlap has shaped the industry in the US and Europe. Commercial operators have maintained relationships with government and defense customers. How well the Diting satellites perform remains unclear. Chang Guang has not disclosed additional technical details about the system. The planned expansion will provide a clearer test of the concept. A 60-satellite network would give StarRF far more opportunities to observe and locate radio emissions from orbit. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.