Different from the past, this rocket is not from the "national team" in the aerospace field, but is launched by aerospace private enterprises.
According to media reports, the company created three firsts in the history of private space flight in China: China private commercial space launch vehicle was successfully launched for the first time and put into orbit with high precision; China private commercial space was launched into orbit for the first time with one arrow and multiple satellites; China private commercial aerospace realized space advertisement and video transmission for the first time.
The first flight of the Hyperbolic No.1 carrier rocket was successful. Image source: Xinhua News Agency (photo by Wang Jiangbo)
This launch in orbit is of great significance, which proves that China’s private commercial space launch vehicle really has the ability to transport loads into space. Private space leading enterprises — — Elon musk, founder of SpaceX, also praised it as "cool".
In the emerging field of commercial launch vehicles, many companies are competing for it. In 2014, China’s first private space company — — Lingke Aerospace was registered and established in Shenzhen. Since then, many aerospace private enterprises, such as Blue Arrow Aerospace, Zero one club Aerospace, Deep Blue Aerospace and Star Route Exploration, have been established one after another, becoming new forces in the field of private aerospace, scrambling to seize the high ground of the industry.
China is not suitable for private space flight because of successive failed launches?
The aerospace industry has long investment cycle, high risk and high difficulty, especially in commercial aerospace. Once the launch fails, it will inevitably suffer heavy losses and affect market confidence. Compared with the international advanced level, China’s private space flight started late, and its development has experienced twists and turns.
On October 27, 2018, the launch vehicle "Suzaku No.1" launched by Blue Arrow Aerospace, during the flight, the first and second stages of the rocket worked normally, the fairing was separated normally, and the last three stages were abnormal, which caused the launch to fail.
On March 27th, 2019, the first OS-M carrier rocket and "Chongqing Liangjiang Star" launched by one club, a private rocket company, became abnormal several tens of seconds after launch, exploded at high altitude, and the launch mission failed.
The failure of two times in succession made China private space company suffer a heavy setback, and even was once questioned. In fact, it is not uncommon for a rocket to fail to launch. SpaceX also experienced unimaginable difficulties in the early stage of development. Before 2008, the few rocket launches failed without exception. SpaceX Falcon-1 rocket experienced three failed launches before its first success.
In addition to facing the pressure of successful rocket launch, private space companies in China have to solve the problem of how to make profits through commercial space activities. On the whole, China private space flight is still in the "initial stage", its commercial profit model has not been tested by practice, and the actual profitability of most enterprises is also limited. According to reports, the launch of "the first broadcast of space advertisements and video transmission" has given full play to the openness and flexibility of commercial operation, and is also an attempt to explore the profit model.
Image source: Xinhua News Agency
Policy support and capital favor, private space flight has become a new darling.
It is worth noting that by the end of 2018, there were more than 100 registered commercial aerospace companies in China. In 2018, China’s financing in the commercial aerospace sector was close to RMB 3.6 billion, an increase of 67% over the previous year.
In 2016, the State Council Press Office published a white paper entitled "Aerospace in China in 2016", encouraging private capital and social forces to participate in space research and production, space infrastructure construction, space information products and services, satellite operation and other activities to develop commercial aerospace.
Image source: Xinhua News Agency
In the eyes of the industry, China private aerospace companies are still in the early stage of development, and financing is the primary issue for survival and development, and this successful launch undoubtedly adds weight to the financing of private aerospace companies.
Private space flight is not just a matter of "private"
In Beijing Yizhuang Economic and Technological Development Zone, more than ten private aerospace enterprises have gathered, forming the strongest lineup of China’s private aerospace industry. It bears the "flying dream" of private space enterprises and also helps the construction of China’s space power.
According to the constellation networking plan announced by various countries at present, the number of small satellites to be launched in the future exceeds 25,000, while the current number of space launches in the world is only about 100 times a year, which is far from meeting the carrying demand. China’s private space flight still has a huge space for participation, and the necessary tool to carve up this "big cake" is to have a low-cost commercial launch vehicle.
Today, American private space technology is leading the world. On April 11 this year, the SpaceX "Heavy Falcon" launch vehicle completed its first commercial launch and achieved perfect recycling; On May 9, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the richest man in the world, announced the "Blue Moon" lunar lander, and the space company "Blue Origin" founded by him started the journey of exploring the moon. In the future, the competition in space will be more intense, and the larger the scale and advanced technology of private space, the stronger its position in space. China, which is heading for a space power, needs a powerful private space force, and private space is by no means just a "private" thing.
It is estimated that by the end of 2020, space private enterprises will continue to complete the launch mission of Hyperbolic No.1 Remote 2-Remote 6 launch vehicle, form a large-scale launch of small solid launch vehicles, and start the journey of large-scale commercial launch.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency, Science and Technology Daily, China News Network)
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