Orbica
UpcomingTimelineAgenciesRocketsSatellitesTrackIntel
← 2025

2025 · ExPace

Traffic VDES A & B

successKuaizhou 1A | Traffic VDES A & B

Two technology demonstration satellites for satellite transmissions of signals for the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES), a successor to the current Automatic Identification System (AIS) on ships and maritime vessels for traffic management at sea with higher bandwidth on new frequencies for secure communications and e-navigation. This project is a joint effort by the China Ministry of Transport's China Transport Telecommunications Information Center and SpaceSail, operator of the Qianfan/G60 constellation.

Overview

Date / time
December 5, 2025 at 09:00 AM UTC
Outcome
success
Launch site
Launch Area 95A
Mission
Traffic VDES A & B
Mission type
Technology
Orbit achieved
Low Earth Orbit
Launch vehicle
Kuaizhou 1A →
Launch provider
ExPace →

Payloads deployed · 2

2025-284A
LEO
2025-284B
LEO