Private space firms drawn to launching rockets
Print Edition
LAUNCHING rockets and satellites has long been the preserve of China’s state-owned aerospace companies, but private space firms are now popping up hoping to find gold in the space dust.
A report by Beijing-based investment institution FutureAerospace says more than 60 private Chinese firms have entered the commercial space industry over the past three years, focusing on the production and launch of satellites and rockets.
Most of the companies are based in Beijing, home to many space experts, as well as Guangdong, Shaanxi and Hubei provinces, where the manufacturing industry is more developed.
This follows a government policy in 2015 to encourage private enterprises in space.
Analysts say commercial space activity could help lower costs and increase efficiency of space activities, and accelerate the technology development.
Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are developing cost-effective carrier vehicles with the aim to make space travel possible for ordinary people. They have also inspired Chinese entrepreneurs.
Founded in June 2015, LandSpace, a private rocket-maker, has gained investment of over 500 million yuan (US$78.61 million). Its technicians are former state-owned aerospace industry workers.
“This is the best time for China’s commercial space companies. The core advantage of private firms is rapid decision-making and rapid technical upgrading,” said Zhang Changwu, CEO of LandSpace, which signed a contract with a Danish firm this year to provide launch services.
LandSpace has designed a small solid-propellant rocket that can carry up to 300 kilograms into a low-Earth orbit. It is expected to come out of the factory in the second half of 2018. The company is now focusing on developing a liquid-propellant engine and a medium-sized rocket fueled by liquid oxygen and methane.
LandSpace is not alone in the launch market.
When Shu Chang declared three years ago he would produce rockets, his acquaintances said he was crazy.
Braving questions and mockery, he set up OneSpace in August 2015. Four months later, SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 rocket and recovered the first stage of the rocket for the first time.
Some praise Shu as China’s Elon Musk, but some call him a swindler.
With investment totaling 500 million yuan, OneSpace has developed a rocket engine that passed factory trials. Its first mini-rocket, capable of sending a 100-kg payload to an altitude of 800 km, is set to launch soon.
“SpaceX has inspired China’s space industry. But I don’t want to duplicate the SpaceX story. I want my company to have our own advantages,” Shu said.
Producing satellites is believed to have a lower entry threshold and greater commercial potential than rockets, and has drawn many start-ups and investment.
With the development of autonomous driving, the Internet of Vehicles and the Internet of Things, remote sensing and communication satellites are said to have a lot of good prospects.
Shanghai-based SpaceOK plans to produce and launch up to 40 small communication satellites in the next three years to help develop the IoT.
The value of the global space market is estimated at US$485 billion in 2020, when the value of China’s space market is projected to be 800 billion yuan.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
