A recently debuted Chinese rocket has set a noteworthy record. The Gravity-1, manufactured by Orienspace, had its inaugural launch on January 11 from a ship stationed in the Yellow Sea. The robust rocket successfully propelled three Yunyao-1 commercial weather satellites into their designated orbit, marking it as the most powerful Chinese commercial rocket to achieve an orbital mission. The Gravity-1, capable of carrying approximately 14,300 pounds (6,500 kilograms) to low Earth orbit (LEO), stands out as the most potent solid-fueled launcher in China.
Orienspace has ambitious plans for its rocket lineup, with Gravity-2 in development, featuring a liquid-fueled core stage and solid rocket boosters, expected to debut in 2025 with a projected payload capacity of 25.6 tons to LEO. Additionally, Gravity-3 is on the horizon, designed to combine three Gravity-2 core stages, akin to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. Gravity-3 is anticipated to have a payload capacity of about 30.6 tons to LEO.
Comparatively, the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy by SpaceX boast payload capacities of approximately 25 tons and 70 tons to LEO, respectively, according to SpaceX specifications. The Gravity-1 launch, named Galaxy-1, marked China’s fourth orbital mission of the year, indicative of the nation’s heightened launch frequency, with the private sector playing an increasingly vital role. China launched 64 orbital missions in 2022, surpassing the record with 67 launches in 2023.
