In early winter, a layout about the future of space is quietly unfolding in Shanghai.
On December 12th, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation announced that they will jointly establish the "Space Computing Joint Laboratory" and incubate the industrial entity "Oriental Sky Computing". This name, full of Eastern philosophical implications, carries China's ambition to open up new paths in the field of space AI. In the current global space competition that has shifted from "scale networking" to "orbital intelligence", can "Oriental Sky Computing" truly pave the way for the development of space AI with Chinese characteristics?
In November 2025, Starcloud, supported by NVIDIA's Startup Acceleration Program, launched its first technology test star; Google announces the "Sun Catcher Program" with the goal of building a space AI data center; Elon Musk's SpaceX is pushing for an IPO with a target valuation of approximately $1.5 trillion, with the funds raised primarily for the development of space AI data centers.
During the same period in China, in May, the Space Computing Center of Group 01 of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's "Star Computing" program was successfully launched into orbit, and the 5POPS in orbit cluster computing system achieved global leadership in low power consumption and high-density indicators. This is not only a technological breakthrough, but also a strategic declaration - space is evolving from a data transmission channel to a data processing center, and a competition around "orbital computing power" has fully begun.
The end of AI is' electricity ', "this Silicon Valley catchphrase reveals the essence of computing power competition. As the energy consumption of ground data centers approaches its limit, space, with its almost infinite heat dissipation space and solar potential, has become an ideal location for the next generation of computing infrastructure. But the deeper logic lies in sovereignty - whoever can master the in orbit data processing capabilities will gain irreplaceable time advantages in military response, commercial services, and scientific exploration.
The birth of "Oriental Sky Calculation" is a strategic response given by China based on its own advantages. The core characteristics of the US space AI path are "capital driven, giant led", while China highlights its differentiated advantages of "national strategic guidance and deep collaboration between industry, academia, and research". The key to the success of this new path lies in the formation of a sustainable technological innovation and business cycle.
Shanghai's choice is not accidental. As a highland of China's integrated circuit industry, a source of artificial intelligence innovation, and an international financial center, Shanghai has a complete ecosystem required for the development of the space computing industry.
From chip design in Zhangjiang to intelligent manufacturing in Lingang, from artificial intelligence algorithms in Xuhui to capital support in Lujiazui, Shanghai is building a complete industrial chain from underlying hardware to top-level applications. The cooperation between Guoxing Aerospace and Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a key link in extending this industry chain into space.
The "Space Computing Joint Laboratory" and "Oriental Sky Computing" form a clear collaborative system for production and research. The laboratory focuses on bottleneck technologies such as radiation hardened chips, low-power in orbit intelligent algorithms, and inter satellite collaborative computing. Dongfang Tianhua is responsible for transforming these technologies into market-oriented products and services, exploring the business model of space computing power as a service (CaaS).
The feasibility of any new road must ultimately be tested through its commercial value.. In September 2025, Guoxing Aerospace successfully provided commercial space computing services for the "Jiazhi Huixing Transportation Industry Model", completing the first commercial closed-loop verification of space computing as a service. This case has symbolic significance. It proves that China's independent space computing architecture can not only meet high reliability aerospace requirements, but also provide computing power services that meet commercial market demands. From technical validation to commercial implementation, the "Oriental Sky Calculation" model has made a crucial leap forward. However, the success of a single case does not necessarily indicate the maturity of the model. To truly embark on a new path, the "Oriental Sky Calculation" must solve the problem of large-scale replication. At present, the "Star Computing" program's 02 and 03 space computing centers have been put into operation and plan to achieve orbital deployment in 2026, which will be a major test of its industrial production capacity. To achieve a leap from technological catch-up to industry leadership in China's space AI industry, it is necessary to face systemic challenges and explore development paths that are in line with its own advantages. The current challenges focus on three levels: technology, business, and ecology. Technically, seeking a balance between ensuring space level reliability and reducing costs is a necessary step from the laboratory to large-scale applications. Commercially, the industry still relies on project-based approaches and urgently needs to establish a sustainable business model similar to 'space computing power as a service'. Ecologically, issues such as insufficient collaboration in the industrial chain, lack of standards, and talent gaps constrain overall innovation efficiency. Breaking through the situation requires focusing on differentiated advantages and systematic innovation. Strategically, resources should be concentrated to build a global technological backbone in areas where advantages have already been demonstrated, such as inter satellite communication and AI additive manufacturing satellite platforms, rather than catching up across the board. The organization needs to transform the traditional model of industry university research cooperation, establish an "innovation consortium" driven by scenarios and centered on enterprises, and bridge the gap between research and development and the market. Ecologically, it is necessary to accelerate the formulation of standards, build open source platforms, lower innovation barriers, and cultivate a diverse and participatory industrial ecosystem. The rise of China's space AI will ultimately depend on whether the entire industry can form a system capability for sustained innovation. From technological breakthroughs to ecological construction, from project customization to service leadership, every step is reshaping China's position in the global space computing landscape. Can 'Eastern Sky Calculation' pave the way for China's new space AI? There is currently no final answer to this question. The cooperation between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Guoxing Aerospace showcases a new approach for China's space AI: it is not simply imitating the business model of the United States, but based on its own industrial foundation and innovation system, exploring a development path characterized by "national strategic guidance and deep collaboration between industry, academia, and research". The achievements of Guoxing Aerospace, including the world's first large-scale space computing center for in orbit verification, a validated commercial service loop, and a complete blueprint for the "Star Computing" program, have laid a solid foundation for this new path. But the real test has just begun: can we control costs while expanding our scale? Can we build a prosperous application ecosystem? Can we maintain a leading position in fierce international competition? The competition of space AI is not only a competition of technology, but also a competition of development models and innovation systems. Ultimately, whether China's new path in the field of space AI can succeed depends not on a single enterprise or project, but on the vitality and resilience of the entire innovation ecosystem. On this challenging new path, "Oriental Sky Calculation" has taken its first step, and the scenery ahead is waiting for more participants to depict together. Preliminary verification of commercial closed loop
