Tech innovation propels China's commercial space industry growth

Tech innovation propels China's commercial space industry growth
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
China's commercial space industry made remarkable progress in 2024, with market projections suggesting it will exceed 2.3 trillion yuan (approximately 314 billion U.S. dollars) in value.

Technological advancements in key areas, such as reusable rocket development, smart launch infrastructure, and cutting-edge satellite transmission technologies, have catalyzed rapid industry growth and promise further momentum in the coming years.

Reusable Rockets

Reusable rockets have emerged as a central focus in China's commercial space endeavors. Multiple Chinese companies are conducting extensive test flights to refine reusable technology. Companies including Space Pioneer, CAS Space, Galactic Energy, and LandSpace are preparing to launch new rockets in 2025, with ambitions to achieve first-stage recovery and reuse.

LandSpace's Zhuque-3 rocket is poised to make history as China's first stainless steel-bodied rocket capable of reaching Earth's orbit. In September 2024, Zhuque-3 completed a 10-kilometer vertical takeoff and landing recovery test at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This mission, powered by a single-stage rocket with liquid oxygen and methane engines, marked China's inaugural vertical takeoff and landing.

The test validated numerous advanced technologies, including in-flight engine relight post-reentry, joint guidance and control during transonic and high-dynamic-pressure conditions, and real-time wind correction technology at high altitudes. This milestone represents a major leap in China's reusable launch vehicle capabilities.

Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 rocket, another reusable prototype, is powered by a 110-tonne thrust liquid oxygen and kerosene engine, offering performance on par with SpaceX's Falcon 9. Designed to launch over 30 satellites in a single mission, it highlights the growing sophistication of China's space technology.

Smart Launch Sites

In the past year, China inaugurated several state-of-the-art commercial launch sites designed to accommodate diverse rocket designs and mission requirements.

The Hainan Commercial Aerospace Launch Site completed its first mission on November 30, 2024. Its intelligent launch system integrates multiple subsystems through digital and automated applications, enabling centralized resource management and scheduling. The No.2 launch pad features a universal interface, allowing for adaptable equipment configurations to support rockets with varying propellant types, weights, and dimensions.

The Dongfeng commercial space pilot zone, located near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, has also been optimized to meet the launch requirements of rockets using liquid oxygen-kerosene, liquid oxygen-methane, and solid propellants. Its versatile design accommodates large, medium, and small rockets, further boosting the industry's operational capacity.

New Satellite Technologies

Chinese companies are accelerating satellite technology innovations, unlocking new market opportunities and applications.

GalaxySpace successfully tested a broadband communication network in Thailand in mid-2024, leveraging its low-Earth-orbit satellite internet constellation, "Little Spider Web." The constellation, comprising eight communication satellites, is set to expand, facilitating global low-Earth-orbit broadband satellite internet.

The company is also developing satellites featuring integrated solar wings and antennas, combining a large antenna surface with solar wings for enhanced signal transmission. This design aims to enable direct broadband communication between consumer-grade mobile devices and satellite networks.

Chang Guang Satellite Technology achieved significant progress in high-speed satellite data transmission. In December 2024, it conducted a successful test of high-resolution remote-sensing image transmission using 100-Gbps ground-satellite laser technology. This breakthrough enhances the functionality of remote-sensing satellites for disaster monitoring, environmental management, and emergency response.

Additionally, this laser communication technology is expected to support integrated ground-satellite mobile communication systems, providing broader bandwidth and higher transmission speeds. These advancements lay the groundwork for 5G non-terrestrial networks and the future 6G satellite internet.