The transformation of Wuxi's historic Liangxi district into a focal point for China's commercial space industry is gaining remarkable momentum. When Penghe Wuyu (Wuxi) Aerospace Co., Ltd.'s Chairman Li Yuan states, "We moved our headquarters to Liangxi, and the coupling effect of the industrial chain is taking hold," his conviction is palpable. This company, a global pioneer in achieving integrated space-ground communication protocol testing, is actively pursuing Jiangsu province's first trial commercial license for satellite Internet of Things (IoT) on behalf of Liangxi.

This is just one facet of a broader trend. In March, China's first commercial aerospace "Star Consortium" was inaugurated in Liangxi. Backed by the district's state-owned platform, leading industry players including GalaxySpace, Oriental Space, Hesun Starlink, Star Move Linkcom, and Spacety joined forces. By June, the 2026 Wuxi Commercial Aerospace and Space Information Technology Conference & Exhibition had concluded, and the globally pioneering "Oriental Wisdom Eye" intelligent remote sensing satellite system, developed with deep involvement from the Liangxi Science and Technology City, was unveiled, earning a spot among the top ten events in the 2025 remote sensing field. These developments collectively sketch a clear picture: Liangxi, the central urban area and historic heart of Wuxi, is decisively entering the global commercial space arena.

Fostering Industrial Synergy

Li Yuan's experience is not unique in Liangxi. Companies like Xingce Future discovered upon arrival that nearly all potential ecosystem partners were within the same city: satellite platforms from Micro-Nano Space and Spacety, communication technology from Jingji Communication and Hesun Starlink, and downstream application development with Yunyao Aerospace, also based in Wuxi. Similarly, Jingji Communication is developing IoT satellite communication payloads for the consortium's "Tianyuan Constellation." This exemplifies the power of industrial clustering.

At the municipal level, Wuxi aims to become a key national manufacturing base for mega-constellations and a leading city for satellite internet applications. Its districts have formed a coordinated "one peak, multiple plains" pattern for commercial aerospace: Liangxi focuses on super-factories and the "Star Consortium"; Huishan specializes in rocket and satellite integration; Xinwu develops airport-adjacent "aviation + manufacturing" industries; while Jiangyin, Yixing, Xishan, and Binhu delve into specialized fields like phased array antennas, space photovoltaics, and precision machining. This differentiated yet synergistic layout across the city bore fruit in early June when "Wuxi's rocket" launched "Wuxi's satellite." The Zhuque-2 improved model Y6 carrier rocket placed two satellites into orbit, one of which—the China Mobile-02 satellite—was developed by GalaxySpace, which is based in Liangxi. This satellite will test direct-to-cell satellite connectivity and space-ground network integration technologies. Notably, GalaxySpace recently publicly displayed its self-developed second-generation direct-to-cell phased array antenna, the first domestic satellite-borne phased array supporting 128 beams using ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) technology.

Beyond inter-district coordination, synergy is also built between national institutions and local advantages. Liangxi is collaborating with "national team" entities to co-build a super pilot-production line for complete satellites. The Liangxi Aerospace Technology Group signed an agreement with the 511 Institute of the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST, or Fifth Academy) to operate this facility, introducing top-tier spacecraft system integration and environmental simulation testing capabilities. Concurrently, a partnership with the renowned Dongfanghong Satellite Co., Ltd., known for efficiency and cost-effectiveness, brings mature small satellite platform architectures and industrialization experience. The planned integrated pilot line and shared testing center will employ an intensive model to build an annual production capacity of 200 satellites.

To date, Liangxi has attracted over 120 commercial aerospace companies. Upon reaching full capacity, the district will possess the capability to manufacture 50 rockets and 1,000 satellites annually. This approach demonstrates that Liangxi is not betting on a single segment but building a complete industrial ecosystem—from rocket engines and satellite manufacturing to network operation. This "full-chain thinking" allows every company to find collaborative partners within the ecosystem, significantly enhancing the supply chain's resilience and endogenous growth potential.

Aligning with National Strategy

Liangxi's foray into commercial space is not an impulsive decision but a deep alignment with national strategy. In November 2025, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) formally established a Commercial Space Department. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) initiated commercial trials for satellite IoT services. The 2026 Government Work Report for the first time explicitly listed aerospace as a national "emerging pillar industry." The policy direction is clearly pointing toward space, and Liangxi has astutely seized this window of opportunity.

From "building rockets" and "building satellites" to "using satellites," and from rocket manufacturing to in-orbit computing, Liangxi's strategic focus continues to evolve, yet it remains synchronized with the national agenda. A prime example is the LX630 constellation. Its first satellite, scheduled for launch in July, will be the nation's first commercial constellation dedicated to space debris monitoring. It is noteworthy that while Elon Musk announced plans for a space situational awareness constellation only in early 2026, Liangxi had already made its move beforehand.

Industry observers note that the future development of commercial aerospace will see two trends: more regions entering the field, and certain areas specializing in specific, refined segments to become integral links in the industrial chain. This analysis precisely validates Liangxi's chosen path. From top-level policy support to regions leveraging their unique advantages, and the accelerated development of chain-based enterprises, a concerted force is taking shape in commercial aerospace. Reducing launch costs, increasing launch frequency, accelerating constellation deployment, and promoting high-quality space data applications have become core development directions for 2026 and the broader 15th Five-Year Plan period. Liangxi is positioning itself as a crucial pivot within this collective effort. The birth of the nation's first commercial aerospace "Star Consortium" in March is Liangxi's proactive response to the national strategic calls to "accelerate the coordination and integration of satellite frequency and orbital resources" and "promote the scaled development of commercial aerospace."

Embracing the Space Economy

In 2026, driven by the convergence of policy, technology, and capital, China's commercial space sector is entering a new "Age of Exploration" marked by large-scale constellation deployment and commercial operation. "Humanity stands on the eve of a second 'civilizational leap.' Artificial intelligence, space technology, and bioengineering will determine the future development dominance," stated Xu Ming, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of GalaxySpace, highlighting the strategic weight of the space economy.

Looking from the future to the present, space technology is poised to catalyze a vast space economy, an era that has already arrived. The total number of satellites launched globally in the past five years surpasses the sum launched in the preceding decades. Space infrastructure development is accelerating comprehensively, characterized by four major trends: low-Earth orbit (LEO) focus, constellation-based systems, cost reduction, and mass production.

So, what does Liangxi see, and where is it focusing its efforts? It sees the future of in-orbit computing. Lin Ziyang, CEO of Zhisuan Xingkong, stated in a media interview, "We aim to send computing power, models, and intelligent agents into space to perform real-time intelligent information processing and value extraction in orbit." The first wave of applications for "in-orbit celestial computing" is expected to peak within the next two to three years.

It sees the blue ocean of in-orbit services. When tens of thousands of satellites reside long-term in orbit, demands for satellite maintenance, refueling, orbital transfer, and debris cleanup will transform into substantial, sustained markets.

It recognizes the value of new space infrastructure. Technologies like Ziwei Technology's commercial space station platform, GalaxySpace's roll-out flexible solar wings, and Hesun Starlink's laser communication terminals—once seemingly distant concepts—are becoming tangible, new-quality productive forces in Liangxi.

The journey from the canal banks to the vast cosmos has not been easy for Liangxi. Commercial aerospace involves massive investment, long cycles, and high risk. For a historic city in southern China with no prior aerospace industrial base, choosing this path required immense courage, wisdom, and determination. Behind this choice lies a systematic "full-chain layout" mindset, a keen judgment of industrial trends, and a political consciousness aligned with national strategy.

As the global "Age of Exploration" for the space economy fully dawns, Liangxi, this ancient district of Wuxi, is solidifying its role as a "super pivot" for China's commercial space industry. There is compelling reason to believe that the name of this historic city will be firmly etched and shine brightly in the rising tide of the commercial space era.