China's Orienspace Preps Reusable Rocket for 2026 Launch
A Chinese startup is racing to launch a massive reusable rocket that could carry 21,500 kg to orbit while cutting costs and waste. Orienspace just secured hundreds of millions in funding and is preparing to go public as China's commercial space industry takes flight.
China's private space race just got a major boost, and it could change how the world launches satellites.
Orienspace, a startup founded just six years ago, announced it raised several hundred million yuan (roughly $74 million) to fast-track development of Gravity-2, a 70-meter reusable rocket designed to haul massive satellite constellations into orbit. The company is also preparing for an IPO on Shanghai's STAR Market, joining a wave of Chinese commercial rocket makers chasing public listings.
The Shandong-based company isn't just building another rocket. Gravity-2 can lift 21,500 kilograms to low Earth orbit when expended, or 17,000 kg when the first stage returns for reuse, slashing waste and costs like SpaceX's Falcon 9 does.
Nine powerful Force-110 engines will power the first stage, making it one of China's most ambitious commercial launch vehicles. The company is targeting a late 2026 launch after pushing back from an earlier 2025 goal.
The funding round drew support from institutional and state-linked investors including Vertex Capital, Shanghai STVC, AVIC Honghua, and Yuanyou Ruize. Their involvement signals serious government backing for China's push to compete in the global space economy.
Orienspace already proved itself with three successful launches of its solid-fuel Gravity-1 rocket. The most recent mission in July marked the company's first launch from the East China Sea, demonstrating growing operational flexibility.
The timing matters. China is racing to deploy megaconstellations of satellites for communications and Earth observation, competing with SpaceX's Starlink and other global networks. Affordable, reusable rockets are essential to making those projects economically viable.
The Ripple Effect
Orienspace was one of just four commercial firms selected this year to potentially launch cargo to China's space station. That's a remarkable achievement for a company that didn't exist before 2020.
The company now operates research centers, rocket assembly facilities, and launch bases across five Chinese cities including Beijing, Xi'an, and Wenchang. It has raised more than 1.7 billion yuan (about $250 million) across five funding rounds, with another round reportedly close to completion.
China's government recently changed rules to help capital-intensive tech companies like rocket makers list on the STAR Market. Orienspace is racing alongside competitors LandSpace, CAS Space, Space Pioneer, and Galactic Energy, all eyeing public offerings.
The commercial space sector is no longer just a two-country game between the U.S. and Russia. Private Chinese companies are building reusable rockets, winning government contracts, and attracting serious investment at a pace that seemed impossible a decade ago.
If Gravity-2 succeeds later this year, it will mark another milestone in making space more accessible and affordable for everyone.
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Based on reporting by SpaceNews
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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