China unveils new-gen space situational awareness constellation for space traffic management

China unveiled a program on Wednesday for a new-generation space situational awareness constellation, aimed at creating a globally covered and rapidly responsive monitoring network in near-Earth orbit to enhance space environment safety.

The constellation, named "EYESAT", will consist of 156 satellites, with launches scheduled to begin in the first half of 2026.

The satellites will be equipped with wide-field cameras, infrared cameras, imaging cameras, electromagnetic monitoring devices, multispectral cameras, computing units, and intelligent processing software.

Once fully operational, the system will detect, track, identify and catalog on-orbit satellites, while also monitoring space debris. By analyzing satellite orbital data and predicting collision risks, it will provide precise and efficient data services for space traffic management .

This capability is designed to effectively address the growing challenges of space traffic congestion and debris risks, thereby ensuring greater safety for space operations.

"The primary function of the space awareness constellation is to collect data from both space debris and operating satellites. The data will be analyzed and offered to active satellites in orbit to prevent them from colliding with one another, or with debris," said Hu Yu, head of the EYESAT space situational awareness constellation program.

China unveils new-gen space situational awareness constellation for space traffic management

China unveils new-gen space situational awareness constellation for space traffic management

The Trump administration on Friday expanded its sanctions targeting Iran's oil trade and maritime networks, issuing a new Iran-related general license and updating its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list with entities and oil tankers tied to Iran's petroleum sector.

The Iran-related General License T, issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), authorizes "limited safety and environmental transactions and the offloading of cargo involving certain persons or vessels blocked on January 23, 2026."

Meanwhile, OFAC updated its SDN list, adding multiple shipping companies and nine oil tankers in alleged links with Iran. The move is expected to effectively block their U.S. property and prohibit U.S. citizens from engaging in transactions with them.

"OFAC is targeting nine shadow fleet vessels and their respective owners or management firms that have collectively transported hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of Iranian oil and petroleum products to foreign markets," the Treasury Department said Friday in a press release.

"As previously outlined, Treasury will continue to track the tens of millions of dollars that the regime has stolen and is desperately attempting to wire to banks outside of Iran," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on X.

The move came after a series of U.S. sanctions and other measures adopted earlier this month, seen as part of a broader U.S. effort to cut off funding streams supporting Tehran amid ongoing tensions.

U.S. expands sanctions targeting Iran's oil trade, maritime networks