The startup company Orienspace has raised over $100 million to develop a new series of rockets, one model of which is reusable.
Founded in 2020 with an initial capital of $65 million, Orienspace aims to explore a new model of aerospace development. In a recent statement, the company announced it has secured an additional $47 million in investments, making it one of the best-backed startups in China despite its young age.
Simulation of the Gravity 1 rocket preparing for launch from a sea platform. (Image: Orienspace).
Orienspace aims to launch its first rocket, Gravity 1, in 2023. Gravity 1 features a central stage that uses a liquid fuel engine combined with solid fuel booster stages. The rocket will stand 31 meters tall and has the capability to launch a payload of 3,000 kg into low Earth orbit (LEO).
But the company does not stop there; it also plans to introduce Gravity 2 and 3, which will be larger and more complex in design, respectively in 2024 and 2025. Gravity 2 will be able to carry 15,000 kg of payload to LEO, while Gravity 3 will have a capacity of 30,000 kg.
What makes Gravity 3 more special than its two predecessors is not just its size and power, but also its capability for partial reusability, similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
Orienspace has already begun constructing a testing, assembly, and integration center for commercial launch vehicles in Hai Duong City, Shandong Province, China. The facility will also provide a launch site and sea landing pad for the rockets.
