Chinese Firm Smart Dragon-1 Rocket Reaches Orbit on Debut Flight
China Rocket Co. Ltd. successfully launches its first commercial Smart Dragon-1 rocket, deploying three satellites into orbit and intensifying domestic light-lift competition.
A Chinese commercial rocket company successfully launches its first Smart Dragon-1 rocket, sending three commercial satellites into orbit and intensifying domestic light-lift competition. The four-stage solid propellant rocket lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, marking a significant milestone for China Rocket Co. Ltd., a commercial spinoff from the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The 19.5-meter-tall rocket carries the Qiansheng-1 satellite, which features a high-resolution optical imager, along with two smaller payloads into sun-synchronous orbits. These additional satellites include the Tianqi-2 Internet of Things technology verification satellite and the Xingshidai-5 spacecraft, both developed by private Chinese space firms.
This successful mission highlights China's national strategy of civil-military fusion by facilitating the transfer of restricted technologies to approved commercial firms. The launch follows last month's first successful orbital launch by the private Chinese company iSpace, demonstrating rapid growth and intense activity within the country's light-launch and small satellite sectors.