Commercial Chinese Satellite Company Gets $111 Million Contract for Provincial Constellation

Insider Brief

• Beijing-based aerospace firm Micro-Nano Star has secured an 804 million yuan ($111 million) contract to build the “Circum-Sky Satellite Constellation” for Sichuan province.
• The constellation will consist of ten remote sensing microsatellites, including four optical and six synthetic aperture radar (SAR) units, to enhance regional data access and expand satellite application use in Meishan.
• Founded in 2017, Micro-Nano Star is part of China’s “Little Giant” SME initiative and represents a broader shift as private aerospace firms transition from subsystem roles to full project integrators in China’s expanding commercial space sector.

Commercial Chinese aerospace company Micro-Nano Star has secured a major satellite constellation contract that will serve Sichuan province.

According to the Chinese language weekly Economic Observer, Micro-Nano Star, a Beijing-based firm recognized under China’s “Little Giant” SME initiative, won an 804 million yuan (approximately $111 million) contract in May to build the “Circum-Sky Satellite Constellation,” citing an announcement by the National Public Resources Trading Platform (Sichuan Province). The project was previously approved by the National Development and Reform Commission.

The constellation, designated to serve the Meishan area of Sichuan province, will include ten small remote sensing satellites—four optical and six equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR), EEO reported. The satellites are intended to enhance the region’s access to aerospace data, broaden applications for remote sensing, and expand multi-type data acquisition capabilities. Under the contract, Micro-Nano Star is responsible for the end-to-end execution of the project, including satellite development, launch, constellation networking, and potentially the construction of ground systems.

Founded in 2017, Micro-Nano Star represents a new generation of private aerospace companies transitioning from component suppliers to primary contractors, according to EEO. The paper noted the company’s evolution mirrors a wider trend in China’s commercial aerospace industry, where private players are now assuming more complex roles in national satellite infrastructure.

According to EEO, public investment has played a central role in the firm’s growth. After a Pre-A financing round in 2018, the company raised over 100 million yuan in successive A and A+ rounds in 2019 and 2020, respectively. A 350 million yuan B round followed in 2021. In 2023, Micro-Nano Star closed a C round worth several hundred million yuan, led by China Structural Adjustment Fund II Co., Ltd., with participation from Skyworth Investment, Guohua Investment, and others. The capital is targeted at ramping up satellite production, advancing next-generation technologies, and expanding into new markets.

As previously detailed by Space Insider, China has become a major player in the global space economy by creating a vertically integrated, state-backed ecosystem with growth of private space companies. Supported by industrial policy and geopolitical goals, the country has expanded its capabilities across launch, manufacturing, and satellite operations. The sector now includes over 500 entities, ranging from state-owned giants to private companies, universities, and research institutes.