China set to launch new satellite named "Wuhan"

As COVID-19 lockdowns are lifted in Hubei Province, China plans this month to launch a satellite named after its virus hotspot capital, Wuhan.

The “Wuhan” is one of two newly built communications satellites supporting China’s part in the Internet of Things project, wherein “things” such as machinery, wearable devices, kitchen appliances and other items are connected to the Internet. 

China has touted its 5G wireless technology as giving the nation an edge in the Internet of Things, or IoT. Aiming to become the world’s largest IoT market by 2022, China continued through the pandemic to build the two satellites.

The first satellite was “named after its birthplace Wuhan,” according to a statement from the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China. 

The launch rocket also was built during the pandemic in Wuhan, where the headquarters of the government-owned space company, Sanjiang Group, is based. 

“Despite its proximity to the epicenter of the novel coronavirus epidemic, the company staff worked hard to ensure the success of the mission,” the Ministry of National Defense said in the statement.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, two Chinese space launches have failed after liftoff.

On March 16, the Long March-7 carrier rocket crashed while attempting to send a classified satellite into orbit. On April 6, the Long March 3-B fell while carrying an Indonesian commercial satellite.

The liftoff date for the “Wuhan” has not been released, but more than 130 launch team members have arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in northwest China, to prepare for the event, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

The “Wuhan” has been assigned a low orbit, and will support machinery in the marine, forestry, and engineering industries, the defense ministry said.