In today's rapid expansion of low Earth orbit satellite constellations, many focus on the conspicuous links like rockets and communication payloads, but the real bottleneck issues are often hidden in the details. For example, solar wings — they are the absolute core of satellite energy, and their performance directly determines how long the satellite can operate and what it can do.

In recent years, a material called UTG has become increasingly popular in the aerospace industry. What exactly is it? Simply put, it is a ultra-thin special glass, only 30 to 50 micrometers thick, thinner than a strand of hair. It sounds fragile, but in reality, it can bend and roll, while maintaining the transparency and durability typical of glass. Why is this so important? Because currently, solar wings generally use an organic material called CPI, which is prone to problems in space — the low Earth orbit is filled with atomic oxygen and intense UV radiation, and CPI cannot withstand it. After 3 to 5 years of operation, it begins to yellow and its light transmittance decreases, and by the end of its lifespan, its performance deteriorates significantly.

UTG is designed to solve this pain point. As an inorganic material, it can operate stably in orbit for 10 to 15 years without loss of transparency. This is a big deal for constellation projects that require reliable performance throughout the satellite's entire lifecycle. Moreover, it enables extreme lightweighting and high-density winding of solar wings, directly reducing launch costs per satellite — saving a lot of money during large-scale satellite deployments.

From an industry landscape perspective, the global UTG track is still in the early adoption phase. Internationally, giants like Germany's Schott and the US's Corning have deep aerospace experience and complete patent portfolios. Interestingly, some leading companies from the consumer electronics sector, such as Lens Technology, are transferring their large-scale, high-yield manufacturing processes for ultra-thin glass into the aerospace field, giving them cost advantages. Domestically, companies like Kaisen Technology have established a fully domestic supply chain from raw sheet production to precision processing, and their products have already passed satellite validation, becoming the main material choice for major domestic projects.

Looking at it from another angle, the UTG track is actually a very interesting opportunity — it is a highly certain new material opportunity within the wave of low Earth orbit satellite constellation construction. The technology has been validated, manufacturing processes can be mass-produced, and customer onboarding pathways are clear. This "from zero to one" new material track, especially in the rapidly expanding commercial space sector, often harbors numerous opportunities.