Orienspace Gravity-1 Executes Long-Range Sea Launch Off Shanghai
Commercial firm Orienspace successfully orbited nine satellites via its Gravity-1 solid rocket, marking its first long-range maritime mission from the East China Sea.
Orienspace successfully deployed nine satellites into orbit late Tuesday via its Gravity-1 solid rocket. According to SpaceNews, the 30-meter vehicle lifted off from a maritime launch platform in the East China Sea, positioned off the coast of Shanghai. This mission (22:54 ET, July 21) represents the company’s first long-range sea launch, moving operations further from its established facilities at Haiyang.
Payload Breakdown
The mission delivered six Dongpo satellites for the Huantian constellation, produced by MinoSpace under a $111 million contract. Notable units include two optical satellites integrated with AI for onboard target recognition and four synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites designed for high-precision surface deformation monitoring. Additional payloads included Xiguang-2 (01), a hyperspectral satellite, Spacety’s Tianyi-49, and the Lilac-3 disk satellite from the Harbin Institute of Technology.
Strategic Trajectory
This launch marks China’s 49th orbital attempt in 2026, a year characterized by a significant surge in commercial activity. The nation is currently tracking toward an annual goal of 100+ launches, following the recent deployment of 38 polar satellites for the Shanghai-backed Qianfan megaconstellation and the arrival of the Chang’e-7 lunar lander hardware at Wenchang.
Orienspace is simultaneously scaling its hardware roadmap. While Gravity-1 solid-fuel vehicles continue operations, the firm is now targeting Q4 2026 for the debut of Gravity-2, a two-stage reusable liquid propellant launcher. This successful maritime execution confirms growing flexibility in China’s commercial launch logistics, reducing terrestrial hazard constraints and expanding orbital inclination options.