The Star Pivot Plan, meaning core of the stars, computing hub, is a flagship space computing infrastructure project for Shanghai. The constellation deployment follows a three-phase roadmap: an engineering verification phase launching 2 computing satellites plus 12 edge computing satellites, a commercial deployment phase adding 50 computing satellites and 100 edge computing satellites, and a full commercial operation phase completing a thousand-satellite constellation. The project is led by Fudan University in partnership with Shanghai Star Pivot Sky Computing, with four academicians serving as chief scientists.
The One Master, Two Assistants architecture. The first constellation uses a novel cluster design: one central computing master satellite paired with a Fuxi weather satellite and an instant remote sensing satellite. These three satellites are linked via inter-satellite laser communication, forming a closed-loop minimum computing verification unit. All data collection, AI inference, and analysis are completed in orbit - no need to transmit massive raw remote sensing data back to Earth. This represents a fundamental shift from traditional satellite operations where data is beamed down for ground processing.
Five breakthrough hardware innovations. The master satellite, functioning as the space brain, features five domestic hardware innovations: (1) a custom domestically-produced aerospace-grade GPU chip delivering 32 petaflops (32P) of on-orbit computing power - the first Chinese satellite to achieve this level of in-situ real-time computation; (2) onboard validation of orbital remote sensing large models and embodied intelligent perception maintenance systems; (3) a hybrid solar power system combining high-efficiency photovoltaic cells with perovskite materials, generating 15KW with efficiency far exceeding traditional silicon panels; (4) an aerospace-grade microchannel active liquid cooling module with a three-level heat dissipation system, the first stable thermal management solution for satellite GPU operation; (5) inter-satellite and satellite-ground laser communication exceeding 400Gbps, using optical phased array reception for high-bandwidth computing interconnection.
Commercial and strategic applications. The plan offers two core services: on-demand distributed space computing power rental (governments, energy companies, shipping, finance, and research institutions can upload encrypted data for AI training and spatiotemporal computation in orbit), and global space-based intelligent integrated services leveraging Fudan AI models for weather forecasting, disaster monitoring, port operations, and power grid inspection. The project is expected to drive over 100 upstream and downstream companies within five years, with the Shanghai space computing industry potentially exceeding 100 billion yuan in annual output value. The plan also supports the Belt and Road Initiative by providing weather and remote sensing computing services to partner countries.
Key takeaway: Shanghai Star Pivot Plan launches a 3-satellite first constellation with 32P on-orbit GPU computing; data processing happens entirely in space via laser-linked satellites; the project targets 1,000 satellites and 100 billion yuan industry output; five domestic hardware innovations enable the breakthrough including a custom GPU chip and 400Gbps laser comms.