A Start-up based in Beijing, sending the first commercial rocket into space – and the state media with cheer. But in the race with private companies from the United States, the Chinese competitors seem feeble.
For the first time a Chinese private aerospace companies have managed the launch of a carrier rocket in orbit. The self-developed rocket to the Beijing company iSpace lifted off from the space center in Jiuquan in the Gobi desert, the state news Agency Xinhua reported. Accordingly, the “Hyperbola-1” two satellites in the Orbit.
Previously, the Chinese company land space and OneSpace failed on the attempt to bring a carrier rocket in orbit. Chinese state media referred to the recent Start-up, therefore, as a “milestone” for China’s private space industry.
Rover for the Red planet
In 2014 the state had allowed the leadership of the private sector, in the space to enter. In the meantime, dozens of companies compete in this field. Still, the space program is driven primarily by the military prior. The government has ambitious plans in All: in addition to other flights to the moon, a Mars mission is planned, in a country vehicle is to be disposed of velvet Rover on the Red planet. Also, China plans to build its own space station.
Private space companies in the United States are ahead of the Chinese, of course, far. The U.S. Mogul Elon Musk founded in 2002, SpaceX has brought with his rockets, numerous satellites into orbit and supply flights to the International space station ISS. Also Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is working with his company Blue Origin to ambitious space plans.
Shoe Box-Satellite
The now successful company iSpace counters, the focus is mainly on the Transport of micro-satellites, which are usually not larger than a Shoe box. They are used for weather observations, Monitoring of disaster areas or research projects, and they are cheaper than traditional satellites. Currently, India is in control of this highly specialized market.
jj/uh (dpa, afp)