China has recently successfully conducted the world’s first satellite-based ultra-remote surgeries, marking a significant advancement in medical technology that could revolutionize trauma care, particularly in high-intensity combat zones.

Doctors at the People’s Liberation Army General Hospital performed five surgeries remotely in locations including Lhasa, Tibet; Yunnan; and Sanya, Hainan. These operations were facilitated by the Apstar-6D broadband communications satellite, which orbits 36,000 km above Earth. Remarkably, all patients who underwent surgery for liver, gallbladder, and pancreas issues recovered and were discharged the day after their procedures.

Launched in 2020, the Apstar-6D telecommunications satellite weighs 5,500 kg and boasts a transmission capacity of 50 gigabits per second, with a lifespan of 15 years. It covers the entire Asia-Pacific region and about one-third of the Earth’s surface in geostationary orbit.

This groundbreaking achievement represents a significant integration of medical and information technology, opening new avenues for the future of trauma care systems.