Overview
- Orienspace’s Gravity-1, which launched on July 22, placed nine satellites into their designated orbits from a mobile platform in the East China Sea near Shanghai.
- The payloads included six Dongpo satellites for the Huantian constellation—two AI-equipped optical craft and four SAR units for formation flying—plus Xiguang-2, Tianyi-49 and Lilac-3.
- The mission was Gravity-1’s third straight successful ship-launched flight, validating long-range offshore operations that let operators choose optimal trajectories and reduce overflight of populated areas.
- Gravity-1 is a solid-fuel launcher reported to carry about 6,500 kilograms to low Earth orbit, and its growing record of reliable multi-satellite missions targets the medium-lift commercial market.
- Orienspace says it is developing Gravity-2, a two-stage reusable liquid rocket targeted for a near-term test by year-end, a move that could lower launch costs and further accelerate China’s already high 2026 launch tempo.