The First Commercial Carrier Rocket By China’s Private Companies Launched Into Orbit
I-Space, one of China’s private aerospace companies, launched the carrier rocket SQX-1 Y1 containing multiple satellites and other payloads from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province on July 25.
SEE ALSO: iSpace Completes Rocket Launch, Adding Momentum to China’s Emerging Private Space Sector
This is the first time that any private Chinese aerospace company has successfully launched a carrier rocket with payloads into orbit. It also marks a first for these companies to be able to advertise in space as well as to send footage back to earth.
“The success started a new chapter for China’s private aerospace industry. I-Space is proud to witness this historical moment, as we are trusted with this opportunity and challenge by the industry and the market,” I-Space said in its official statement.
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The success is groundbreaking for China’s private aerospace industry, as companies in the sector has been through two failures in launching carrier rockets into orbit. LandSpace, a private Chinese space launch company, failed on Oct. 27, 2018. Half a year later, another player OneSpace also failed in the launching process. The whole group has been looking forward to a success.
“Wish I-Space a good success with launching the carrier rocket. When rockets can carry payloads to certain orbit, let’s improve our morale and do a long-term job,” posted LinkSpace CTO Chu Longfei the night before the launch.
I-Space was founded in 2016, when the first wave of non-state-owned aerospace entities started to grow as encouraged by the Chinese government. Before this launch, the company has launched a single-stage vehicle twice, though none of which reached orbit.
The company expects to finish launching carrier rocket SQX-1 Y2 to SQX-1 Y6 by the end of 2020, preparing itself for large scale commercial launches in the future, according to vice president Yao Bowen.