China’s unique high-orbit satellite is using a rare metal the US struggles to obtain
Beijing dominates the global supply of gallium nitride – which has been revealed as a key component in its Ludi Tance-4 01 satellite
A satellite that can provide 24/7 surveillance of a third of the Earth’s surface relies on a rare mineral whose global supply is dominated by China, a new study has disclosed.
It orbits 36,000km (22,000 miles) above the Earth and is able to stay in what is known as a geosynchronous orbit, which keeps it fixed over the same spot.
This allows it to monitor both large areas of the planet and moving targets – something the United States has spent decades trying to achieve without success.
The metal is mainly extracted as a by-product of alumina production rather than mined independently and China, the world’s largest aluminium producer, accounts for more than 95 per cent of global primary gallium production.