Orienspace

Last updated

Orienspace Technology (Shandong) Co., Ltd
Orienspace
Native name
东方空间(山东)科技有限公司
Company type Private
Industry Aerospace
FoundedJune 9, 2020;3 years ago (2020-06-09)
Headquarters,
China
Website www.orienspace.com

Orienspace Technology (Shandong) Co., Ltd (Orienspace for short) is a commercial aerospace enterprise in China founded in 2020. The company designs and manufactures Gravity Series launch vehicles and Force Series rocket engines.

Contents

Background

Orienspace is headquartered in Shandong Province, where an assembly, integration and test center is being built for future activities. [1]

The company also established an R&D center in Beijing Office and a headquarters of aerospace propulsion technology in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. [2]

As of October 2023, Orienspace has raised four rounds of financing, totaling over 150 million USD. [3]

In January 2024, Orienspace Secures 600 Million Yuan Funding for Rocket Development Amid Soaring Demand in China [4]

Product lineup

Gravity-1 is a solid-propellant medium-lift launch vehicle that can carry a payload of up to 6.5 tons to LEO or 4.2 tons to SSO, enabling the deployment of large-scale satellite constellations. Its maiden flight was conducted on 11 January 2024, breaking records as both the world's largest solid-fuel carrier rocket and China's most powerful commercial launch vehicle to date. [5]

Gravity-2, a partially recoverable heavy-lift launch vehicle, is expected to debut in 2025. It will be a 60-meter-tall heavy-lift rocket with a core stage and solid boosters. The core stage will be powered by nine Yuanli-85 engines, which are gas generator kerosene engines with a thrust of 100 tons each. The Gravity-2 will be able to deliver 25.6 tons of payload to LEO, 19.1 tons to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), or 7.7 tons to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). [5] It will also be partially recoverable and support missions to higher orbits such as MEO and LTO.

Gravity-3 is a planned variant of the Gravity-2 that will use three Gravity-2 core stages. It will have a payload capacity of 30.6 tons to LEO, 20.5 tons to SSO, 9.6 tons to GTO, and 8 tons to LTO. [5] It will enable large-scale satellite constellation deployment and lunar exploration.

List of launches

Serial numberFlight numberDate (UTC)Launch sitePayloadOrbitOutcome
1Gravity-1 Y111 January 2024
05:30 UTC
Special converted barge (Dong Fang Hang Tian Gang)
Offshore waters of Haiyang Port
Yunyao-1 18-20 weather satellites LEO (50° inclination, 500km circular)Success [5]


See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expendable launch system</span> Launch system that uses a single use launch vehicle

An expendable launch system is a launch vehicle that can be launched only once, after which its components are either destroyed during reentry or discarded in space. ELVs typically consist of several rocket stages that are discarded sequentially as their fuel is exhausted and the vehicle gains altitude and speed. As of 2022, most satellites and human spacecraft are currently launched on ELVs. ELVs are simpler in design than reusable launch systems and therefore may have a lower production cost. Furthermore, an ELV can use its entire fuel supply to accelerate its payload, offering greater payloads. ELVs are proven technology in widespread use for many decades.

The Long March rockets are a family of expendable launch system rockets operated by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The rockets are named after the Chinese Red Army's 1934–35 Long March military retreat during the Chinese Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delta IV</span> Active expendable launch system in the Delta rocket family

Delta IV was a group of five expendable launch systems in the Delta rocket family introduced in the early 2000s. Originally designed by Boeing's Defense, Space and Security division for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, the Delta IV became a United Launch Alliance (ULA) product in 2006. The Delta IV was primarily a launch vehicle for United States Air Force (USAF) military payloads, but was also used to launch a number of United States government non-military payloads and a single commercial satellite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Launch vehicle</span> Rocket used to carry a spacecraft into space

A launch vehicle is typically a rocket-powered vehicle designed to carry a payload from Earth's surface or lower atmosphere to outer space. The most common form is the ballistic missile-shaped multistage rocket, but the term is more general and also encompasses vehicles like the Space Shuttle. Most launch vehicles operate from a launch pad, supported by a launch control center and systems such as vehicle assembly and fueling. Launch vehicles are engineered with advanced aerodynamics and technologies, which contribute to high operating costs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long March 5</span> Chinese heavy lift rocket

Long March 5, or Changzheng 5 (CZ-5), and also by its nickname "Pang-Wu", is a Chinese heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). It is the first Chinese launch vehicle designed to use exclusively non-hypergolic liquid propellants. It is the fifth iteration of the Long March rocket family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ares V</span> Canceled NASA rocket key to Project Constellation

The Ares V was the planned cargo launch component of the cancelled NASA Constellation program, which was to have replaced the Space Shuttle after its retirement in 2011. Ares V was also planned to carry supplies for a human presence on Mars. Ares V and the smaller Ares I were named after Ares, the Greek god of war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LVM3</span> Indian expendable medium-lift launch vehicle, developed by ISRO

The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 or LVM3 is a three-stage medium-lift launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Primarily designed to launch communication satellites into geostationary orbit, it is also due to launch crewed missions under the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. LVM3 has a higher payload capacity than its predecessor, GSLV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delta IV Heavy</span> Variant of the Delta IV space launch vehicle

The Delta IV Heavy is an expendable heavy-lift launch vehicle, the largest type of the Delta IV family. It is the world's third highest-capacity launch vehicle in operation, behind NASA's Space Launch System and SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and closely followed by CASC's Long March 5. It is manufactured by United Launch Alliance (ULA) and was first launched in 2004. ULA will retire the Delta IV Heavy in 2024. As of June 2023, one flight remains.

Heavy-lift launch vehicle Launch vehicle capable of lifting between 20,000 to 50,000 kg into low Earth orbit

A heavy-lift launch vehicle is an orbital launch vehicle capable of generating a large amount of lift to reach its intended orbit. Heavy-lift launch vehicles generally are capable of lifting payloads between 20,000 to 50,000 kg or between 20,000 to 100,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit (LEO). As of 2023, operational heavy-lift launch vehicles include the Long March 5, the Proton-M and the Delta IV Heavy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ariane 6</span> European space launch vehicle under development

Ariane 6 is a European expendable launch system under development since the early 2010s by ArianeGroup on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). It replaces the Ariane 5, as part of the Ariane launch vehicle family. The stated motivation for Ariane 6 was to halve the cost compared to Ariane 5, and increase the capacity for the number of launches per year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H3 (rocket)</span> Japanese expendable launch system

The H3 Launch Vehicle is a Japanese expendable launch system. H3 launch vehicles are liquid-propellant rockets with strap-on solid rocket boosters and are launched from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and JAXA are responsible for the design, manufacture, and operation of the H3. The H3 is the world's first rocket to use an expander bleed cycle for the first stage engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liquid fly-back booster</span> Launch vehicle study

Liquid Fly-back Booster (LFBB) was a German Aerospace Center's (DLR's) project concept to develop a liquid rocket booster capable of reuse for Ariane 1 in order to significantly reduce the high cost of space transportation and increase environmental friendliness. lrb would replace the existing liquid rocket boosters, providing main thrust during the countdown. Once separated, two winged boosters would perform an atmospheric entry, go back autonomously to the French Guiana, and land horizontally on the airport like an aeroplane.

Super heavy-lift launch vehicle Launch vehicle capable of lifting more than 50 tonnes of payload into low earth orbit

A super heavy-lift launch vehicle is a rocket that can lift to low Earth orbit a "super heavy payload", which is defined as more than 50 metric tons (110,000 lb) by the United States and as more than 100 metric tons (220,000 lb) by Russia. It is the most capable launch vehicle classification by mass to orbit, exceeding that of the heavy-lift launch vehicle classification.

LandSpace Technology Corporation is a Chinese private space launch provider based in Beijing. It was founded in 2015 by Zhang Changwu.

OneSpace or One Space Technology Group is a Chinese private space launch group based in Beijing, subsidiaries in Chongqing, Shenzhen and Xi'an. OneSpace was founded in 2015. OneSpace is led by CEO Shu Chang, and is targeting the small launcher market for microsatellites and nanosatellites. OneSpace launched China's first private rocket in 2018.

i-Space (Chinese company) Chinese private space launch company

i-Space —also known as Space Honor, Beijing Interstellar Glory Space Technology Ltd., Interstellar Glory or StarCraft Glory—is a Chinese private space technology development and space launch company based in Beijing, founded in October 2016.

The Pallas-1 is a medium-lift orbital launch vehicle under development by Galactic Energy. It features seven new 40-ton variable thrust Welkin engines burning RP-1 and liquid oxygen (kerolox) in its first stage. The first stage will have legs and grid fins to allow for stage recovery by vertical landing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Pioneer</span> Chinese aerospace company

Space Pioneer, also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology Co., Ltd., is a Chinese aerospace company developing reusable orbital rocket technology—both launch vehicles and liquid rocket engines—to access the market for low-cost space launch services. The company is aiming to meet launch requirements for both the Chinese national satellite internet project and also the CNSA solicitation for resupply of the Tiangong space station.

CAS Space is a Chinese commercial space launch enterprise founded in 2018 of mixed ownership, partially owned by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Originally started in Beijing, the enterprise is now headquartered in Guangzhou, China, while its Beijing location continues to be its primary R&D center. The enterprise has constructed its dedicated launch pad and facilities at JSLC. The launch pad is considered the first launch pad in China built for commercial use. The enterprise has multiple subsidiaries including a Guangzhou-based company responsible for the operation of its aerospace technology & industry base and a Xi'an-based propulsion system company. The enterprise is purposed to materialize research projects from Chinese Academy of Sciences and is dedicated to space exploration, research and to be a launch service provider. The enterprise is currently developing the Kinetica (力箭) rocket family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gravity-1</span>

Gravity-1 is a solid-propellant medium-lift launch vehicle designed, manufactured and launched by Chinese aerospace company Orienspace. It can carry a payload of up to 6.5 tonnes (14,000 lb) to LEO or 4.2 tonnes (9,300 lb) to SSO, enabling the deployment of large-scale satellite constellations. Its maiden launch was conducted from a sea launch platform on January 11, 2024, breaking records as both the world's largest solid-fuel carrier rocket and China's most powerful commercial launch vehicle to date.

References

  1. "Chinese Rocket Newbie Orien Space Bags USD47.3 Million in Pre-A Round". www.yicaiglobal.com. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  2. "China's OrienSpace could be valued at $823 million in new fundraising -sources". Reuters. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  3. Jones, Andrew (13 February 2022). "A new Chinese rocket company has raised more than $100 million". Space.com. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  4. "Orienspace Secures 600 Million Yuan Funding for Rocket Development Amid Soaring Demand in China". ibmot. ibmot. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Jones, Andrew (11 January 2024). "Orienspace breaks Chinese commercial launch records with Gravity-1 solid rocket". SpaceNews . Retrieved 11 January 2024.