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A Chinese carmaker is mass-producing satellites – one every 28 days
By Dou Hanyang, People’s Daily
In a cavernous workshop lined with robotic arms and humming conveyor belts, a satellite takes shape – not in years, but in weeks.
Geely, best known as a leading car manufacturer in China, is now building satellites in just 28 days. At its satellite factory in Taizhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, the company is applying the same intelligent manufacturing know-how that put millions of its cars on the road to a very different frontier: low-Earth orbit(LEO).
The facility, operated by Geespace, a subsidiary of Geely, marks a leap forward in the commercial space industry, where satellite production has long been a slow, bespoke affair.
Traditionally, it takes hundreds of engineers and technicians up to two years to produce a single satellite, across design, manufacturing, assembly, and final testing. Geely’s new factory can turn one out in less than a month – with a team of just 30. “We can produce up to 500 satellites a year,” said Liu Yong, deputy general manager of Geespace.
“Automation has completely changed the game,” said Liu. “From design and R&D to production, testing, and satellite operation, every step is now faster, smarter, more integrated.”
Inside the factory, production unfolds with industrial choreography. Engineers input specifications at control panels while autonomous robots glide across the floor, delivering honeycomb panels to the subassembly line. In all, more than 60 programmed steps bring the satellite together. In the final stage, robotic arms follow precise programming to drive more than 1,600 screws into a 100-kilogram satellite, with an accuracy margin of less than 0.01 millimeters.
“Artificial intelligence drives much of the operation,” Liu explained. The factory’s intelligent quality inspection system, powered by AI algorithms and machine learning, monitors every stage of production in real time, flagging microscopic defects and cross-referencing in-orbit satellite data with factory output to ensure each unit meets the demand of mass deployment.
Once assembled, each satellite undergoes a range of tests designed to mimic the harsh realities of space. In a solar simulation area, engineers replicate the conversion of sunlight into electrical energy. In another, satellites are placed in a thermal vacuum chamber and subjected to temperature extremes ranging from -180 degrees to 100 degrees Celsius. Electromagnetic compatibility tests follow, ensuring each satellite can communicate reliably and resist interference once in orbit.
The satellites are tailored for LEO missions, supporting a range of applications like emergency communications, maritime connectivity, and aviation data services. China’s commercial LEO constellation development is still in its early stages and faces multiple challenges. Scaling up production is essential to secure the necessary orbital and frequency resources in space.
“As demand for satellite applications grows, scaling up production and achieving breakthroughs in key technologies will be crucial to strengthening China’s competitiveness in the global space industry,” Liu said.
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London Property Dispute Exposes Alleged Corruption, Forgery by Nigerian Politician and Lawyer
By Hassan Taiye
A recent judgment by the UK’s First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) has shed light on a complex web of alleged corruption and forgery involving a Nigerian politician and a senior lawyer. The case revolves around a disputed property in North London, valued at 79 Randall Avenue.
The property was purchased in 1993 under the name “Tali Shani,” which is allegedly an alias for late General Jeremiah Useni, a powerful member of the Abacha regime. Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, claimed the property was gifted to him by “Mr. Tali Shani” in 2021 as payment for legal services. However, the tribunal dismissed this claim, describing it as “fabricated” and “fraudulent.”
The tribunal’s ruling highlights the alleged involvement of Ozekhome and his associates in fabricating documents, including a Nigerian passport, National Identification Number (NIN), and Tax Identification Number (TIN). The NIN was reportedly created remotely from Monaco using a non-compliant photograph and bypassing biometric requirements ¹.
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate Ozekhome and others over alleged fraud, forgery, and unlawful attempt to acquire the London property. The ICPC has launched an investigation, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) has also taken notice of the case ²
Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN Senior lawyer accused of forgery and attempting to acquire the property through fraudulent means.
General Jeremiah Useni Late Nigerian General allegedly behind the purchase of the property under the alias “Tali Shani.”
Osilama Ozekhome*: Ozekhome’s son, implicated in the alleged forgery and fraud.
L-r Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation, Solomon Adeola; Senate Deputy Whip, Onyekachi Nweboyin; Former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Senator Sharafadeen Ali; Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau; Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; Senate Whip Tahir Monguno and Senate Committee Chairman on Financial Institutions, Tokunbo Abiru, after resumption of plenary yesterday. Photo: Senate President’s Office
By: Fabian Apechihin
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has resigned from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet amid a growing controversy surrounding his academic credentials.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed Nnaji’s resignation in a statement issued late Tuesday.
Nnaji’s exit follows mounting allegations that his academic certificates were forged. Investigations revealed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), disowned the Bachelor of Science degree he claimed to possess, stating that he never completed his studies at the institution and was therefore not issued any certificate.
According to UNN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon U. Ortuanya, Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but failed to meet the requirements for graduation.
In a related development, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) reportedly disowned the certificate of national service presented by Nnaji, describing it as fake.
His resignation marks the latest in a series of controversies to hit the Tinubu administration over questions of integrity and accountability among public officials.
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