China's Gravity-1, world's most powerful solid-fuel rocket, puts nine satellites into orbit in first long-range sea launch

Chinese commercial space company Orienspace launched nine satellites into orbit on Tuesday using its Gravity-1 rocket in the vehicle's first long-range sea launch mission from the East China Sea.

The 30-metre-long Gravity-1 solid-propellant rocket lifted off at 10:54 a.m. Beijing time (July 22) from a launch service vessel in the East China Sea, sending nine satellites into their planned orbits. The mission marked the third flight of the Gravity-1 rocket and the first time the company conducted a long-range sea launch from waters off Shanghai, instead of its usual launch site near Haiyang in Shandong Province.

Nine satellites launched in a single mission

According to Orienspace, the mission successfully deployed nine satellites and conducted one payload test. The payload included six Dongpo satellites, Dongpo-13, Dongpo-14 and Dongpo-17 to Dongpo-20, for the Huantian satellite constellation. Two of the satellites are equipped with optical imaging systems and onboard artificial intelligence capable of target recognition, intelligent image analysis and faster data processing. The remaining four are synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites designed to fly in formation and provide millimetre-level ground deformation monitoring.

The launch also carried the Xiguang-2 01, Tianyi-49 and Zidingxiang-3 satellites, along with the Neptune experimental payload, supporting technologies ranging from AI-powered Earth observation and quantitative remote sensing to advanced spacecraft platforms and flexible solar array experiments.

Why the launch matters

The mission highlights China's reliance on sea-based launches, which offer greater flexibility than traditional land launch sites.

In a statement originally published in Chinese and translated into English, the company described the mission as a major milestone, saying: "This marks the first time that VFS Global and Gravity-1 have carried out a long-range launch mission, and it is also the first time that my country has conducted a private commercial rocket sea launch mission in the East China Sea area of the Yangtze River Delta."

Unlike fixed launch pads, mobile sea platforms can reposition to favourable locations, allowing operators to select optimal launch windows while avoiding poor weather and reducing congestion at land-based spaceports.

The company added, "Mobile launch platforms at sea are not bound by fixed sea areas or weather restrictions, allowing for the selection of optimal launch times at any time and avoiding adverse sea conditions and weather effects. This flexible and mobile launch mode can significantly improve launch efficiency, alleviate the workload of land-based launch sites, adapt to various current commercial launch needs, and contribute to the diversified layout of my country's space launches."

Gravity-1's commercial launch capabilities

Orienspace said the latest mission further demonstrated the reliability of Gravity-1 after three successful sea launches.

The company claimed, "As the world's most powerful solid-propellant launch vehicle, Gravity-1 has undergone three sea launch missions to date, and the compatibility and reliability of the entire rocket system have been verified in multiple rounds of real-world testing."

It added that the latest mission validated the rocket's ability to operate under complex sea conditions while confirming the maturity and stability of its sea-launch system.

Record-setting commercial payload

Orienspace said the mission also established a new benchmark for China's private commercial aerospace sector. "It is worth mentioning that the weight of the satellites launched in this mission set a new record for both weight and value in China's private commercial aerospace applications," the company said.

According to the company, the Dongpo satellites feature lightweight designs, high manoeuvrability and rapid-response capabilities for continuous Earth observation, while the Xiguang-2 01 and Tianyi-49 satellites combine artificial intelligence with commercial remote sensing to support industries including mining, agriculture, forestry, environmental monitoring and urban planning.

China's 'one rocket, multiple satellites'

Gravity-1 is designed for large-scale deployment of satellite constellations. The solid-fuel launcher can deliver 6.5 tonnes to low Earth orbit or 4.2 tonnes to a 500-kilometre sun-synchronous orbit, allowing it to launch up to 30 small satellites in a single mission.

The company said its "one rocket, multiple satellites" launch model is intended to reduce launch costs while accelerating satellite network deployment.

Gravity-1 made its maiden flight in January 2024, setting records as the world's most powerful solid-propellant launch vehicle and China's largest commercial rocket by payload capacity. Orienspace said the rocket has now entered a phase of stable commercial operations, while development continues on the larger reusable Gravity-2 liquid-fuel rocket, which is expected to carry 21.5 tonnes to low Earth orbit.