A maritime rocket launch from waters off Shanghai has set new records for China, successfully placing 9 satellites into their planned orbits in a single mission.
The Gravity-1 Y3 carrier rocket, developed by Orienspace, launched 8 Qianfan Constellation satellites and 1 EUHT technology test satellite on Wednesday. The mission was described as the world’s 1st sea-based mobile launch of a low-Earth-orbit broadband internet constellation networking mission.
The launch also set Chinese records for the heaviest payload and highest orbital altitude achieved in a single maritime launch. The net payload exceeded 3 tons, while the satellites were deployed at an altitude of 800 kilometers.
The mission demonstrated the ability of sea-launch operations to handle medium-to-large satellite payloads. It was also Orienspace’s 1st launch dedicated to a mega low-Earth-orbit satellite internet constellation.
The payload used both a stacked-satellite assembly and a flat-panel satellite assembly. According to the report, this configuration placed greater demands on multi-stage separation control technology.
Gravity-1 is a solid-propellant rocket with a maximum low-Earth-orbit payload capacity of 6.5 tons. The mission marked the rocket’s 2nd far-sea mobile and far-sea launch, coming just 56 days after its previous mission.
The latest flight also tested the rocket’s ability to operate in challenging maritime conditions, including high temperatures, high humidity and high salt fog. The results further demonstrated the vehicle’s operational reliability.
Meanwhile, development of Orienspace’s reusable large liquid-propellant Gravity-2 rocket is accelerating, with its debut expected soon.
Gravity-2 is expected to have a low-Earth-orbit payload capacity of 21.5 tons, according to the report.
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