China has taken a bold step toward a space-based AI revolution with the successful launch of the first 12 satellites of the "Three-Body Computing Constellation."

The Long March-2D rocket lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern China on Wednesday, marking a milestone in the country's ambitious space computing initiative.

Led by Zhejiang Lab, a leading research institution, the constellation is designed to create a massive orbital supercomputing network. Once complete, it will include thousands of satellites delivering a combined computational power of 1,000 peta operations per second. This spaceborne "neural network" will process data in real time, slashing the need to send information back to Earth.

"This constellation will revolutionize how we handle data in space," said a Zhejiang Lab spokesperson. "It will enable faster, smarter decisions for everything from environmental monitoring to defense applications."

The project, inspired by Liu Cixin’s sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem, underscores China’s push to lead in AI, quantum communications, and space infrastructure. The constellation could transform satellite communications, space missions, and military reconnaissance.

More launches are planned in the coming years, with full deployment targeted for the early 2030s. The mission highlights the growing prowess of China’s aerospace sector and its Long March-2D rocket, a cornerstone of the nation’s space program.

As global powers compete to dominate space-based AI, China’s latest achievement signals its intent to stay at the forefront of this high-stakes race. (ILKHA)