Orienspace Completes First Deep-Sea Launch of Gravity-1 Rocket, Plans Three More Missions in 2026
- Orienspace launched its Gravity-1 rocket from approximately 170 kilometres east of Shanghai, deploying nine satellites and one payload experiment into orbit.
- The company plans three more commercial batch launches in 2026, including a satellite internet constellation deployment mission with hardware already in place.
- The next-generation Gravity-2 reusable liquid rocket, capable of carrying 21.5 metric tons to low Earth orbit, is targeting its first flight by the fourth quarter of 2026.
The rocket lifted off from the Dongfang Space Port vessel approximately 170 kilometres east of Shanghai, carrying nine satellites and one payload experiment into predetermined orbit. The mission marks Gravity-1's transition from demonstration flights to scaled commercial operations.
Orienspace cited four strategic advantages of deep-sea launches over land-based alternatives: easier first-stage safety management with no populated areas downrange, flexible debris zone control through mobile launch positioning, a foundation for future offshore rocket recovery and reuse, and direct southward launch capability needed for low-orbit satellite internet constellations — a trajectory that China's four existing land launch sites cannot support.
The sea voyage subjected the rocket to salt spray and humidity over several days, requiring enhanced protection for sensitive components. Orienspace confirmed the mission designation as Y4, noting that the earlier Y3 mission received regulatory approval after Y4, reflecting the company's manufacturing cadence.
The payload manifest included the Dongpo 13, 14, and 17-20 earth observation satellites offering all-weather wide-area coverage, along with Xiguang 2-01 and Tianyi 49 targeting commercial remote sensing for mining, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and urban planning.
Also aboard were Lilac 3, conducting experiments with an ultra-flat integrated thermal platform and novel attitude control technology, and the Neptune payload test, which features a modular design for flexible solar array compatibility.
Gravity-1 is currently the world's largest solid-fuel launch vehicle. Orienspace has confirmed two financing rounds this year and plans a shareholding system reform ahead of a potential capital markets listing.
The company's next-generation Gravity-2 reusable liquid rocket, powered by the self-developed JD-2 liquid oxygen-kerosene engine, is in pre-flight ground testing and targets a first flight by the fourth quarter of 2026.
Gravity-2 is designed to deliver 21.5 metric tons to low Earth orbit and 15 metric tons to a 500-kilometre sun-synchronous orbit, positioning it among the largest privately developed Chinese liquid launch vehicles and targeting the low-orbit constellation deployment market.
Three additional commercial batch launches are planned for the remainder of 2026, including a large-scale satellite internet constellation deployment mission for which hardware is already prepared.