China's rocket offers service for foreign users to tap into global market

China launches two high-resolution optical remote sensing satellites, Jilin-1 Video 07 and 08, into the preset orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Jan. 19, 2018.[Photo: Xinhua]

China has launched a Long March 11 carrier rocket to send six commercial satellites into space, of which one is for a Canadian client. 

The mission marked the first time that a Chinese solid-propellant rocket was used for a foreign client.

Chinese space experts said that due to rising demand, more tech companies from China are set to compete in the space market. 

A Long March 11 has taken off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China and delivered six small satellites into orbit.

The rocket was developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

The 20-meter-long rocket, with a diameter of two meters, is smaller than other members of the Long March rocket series.

However, the rocket boasts relatively strong lift capacity. 

"Speaking of the lift capacity of the Long March 11, it is capable of sending payloads of 700 kilograms into a low-Earth orbit that is 200 to 400 kilometers from the ground or 500 kg to a Sun-synchronous orbit 500 kilometers above the ground,"said Yang Yiqiang, chief commander of the launch mission.

The official said with such lift capacity, the rocket is capable of sending small commercial or experimental satellites into space. 

The Long March-11 is the only series in the Long March family that uses solid propellants. As solid fuel can be stored inside the rocket for a long time, launch preparation takes less time than liquid-propellant rockets, which need fuel injection before launch.

Yang said the solid-propellant rocket shows strong competence in the commercial space industry.

The official suggested more commercial launches using the Long March rockets are set to be carried out this year to meet the rapidly increasing demands of the market. 

"Now the commercial space industry is becoming closely connected to the everyday life of ordinary people. For instance, apart from remote sensing satellites, there will be a huge demand for satellites that provide low-orbit telecommunication services, internet connectivity like wifi, and better navigation services."

Statistics show the global space market has seen annual growth of around 6 percent in recent years. 

It is estimated that the total volume of China's commercial aerospace market will reach 800 billion yuan or 125 billion US dollars by 2020. 

With the rising market demand in China, many private companies want to grab a larger share of the multi-billion-dollar market for launching commercial satellites.

The six commercial satellites sent into space included two earth-observation satellites made by a State-owned firm, three experimental satellites from domestic private companies as well as one from a Canadian company.

Among them, there are two high-resolution optical remote sensing satellites which were developed by Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co.

Wang Dong is deputy chief commander of one of the remote sensing satellites, Deqing 1.

"The Deqing 1 satellite is one of the 60 satellites that compose the satellite network currently under construction. The satellite has the functions of capturing images with video and employs low light level imaging technology. It has a resolution of one meter. It will join the network and work together with the satellites that are already in space. It has excellent access to information from the earth." 

Low light level imaging systems are an essential component to effective night-time surveillance.

Chinese space expert Yang Yiqiang suggested more solid-propellant rockets with stronger payload capacities in low orbit are under development and will be released into the market by the end of 2019.