1. Basic information Eastern Space was established in 2020. The company’s main products include the “Gravity” series of launch vehicles, the “Force” series of rocket engines, and the “Hongli” series of aerospace information equipment. At 13:30 on January 11, 2024, the Gravity-1 rocket successfully entered orbit after its first launch. Eastern Space became the tenth private company in the world and the fifth in China to achieve a rocket into orbit. 2. Introduction to the Founder Bu Xiangwei: Co-founder of Oriental Space. He graduated from Harbin Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. After graduating with a master’s degree, he joined the General Department of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and participated in the development of the Long March 11. He served as the chief structural designer of the Long March 11 launch vehicle. Currently, he is the co-CEO (CEO), CTO (Chief Technology Officer) of Oriental Space, and the chief designer and commander-in-chief of Gravity-1. Yao Song: Co-founder of Oriental Space. Born in 1992, in 2011, he was recommended to the Department of Electronic Engineering of Tsinghua University by virtue of the second prize in the National Middle School Student Physics Competition. After graduating from his undergraduate degree, he founded Shenjian Technology with his mentor Dr. Wang Yu. The company was acquired by Xilinx for US$300 million two years later. In 2021, he joined Oriental Space as co-CEO, mainly responsible for company strategy, organization, management and other aspects. Peng Haomin: Co-founder of Oriental Space. Born in an aerospace family, he enrolled independently at Tsinghua University in 2012 and went on to Tsinghua University from the Experimental High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University. He graduated with a master’s degree from Stanford University. In 2021, Yao Song launched the SEE Fund unlimited fund as a founding partner, and Peng Haomin served as the venture partner of the fund.
3. Company layout
Beijing: Rocket R&D Center, Electronic Information Test Center, Comprehensive Simulation Test Center.
Xi’an: Engine R&D Center.
Wuxi: Power Headquarters.
Yantai: Company headquarters, Rocket AIT Center (Oriental Spaceport Sea Launch Center).
4. Product Type Spectrum
(1) Launch vehicles: Gravity-1, Gravity-2, Gravity-3
1. Gravity 1: Gravity 1 is the world’s first all-solid bundled medium-sized launch vehicle. It adopts a three-stage and a half configuration of core stage + booster. It is equipped with 4 boosters. Both the core stage and the booster use solid engines.
(1) Basic information
high
Fairing diameter
Takeoff weight
Takeoff thrust
29.4 meters
3.8 / 4.2 meters
405 tons
600 tons
(2) Carrying capacity
low earth orbit
Sun-synchronous orbit (500km)
6.5 tons
4.2 tons
2. Gravity 2: Gravity 2 is a medium-to-large liquid launch vehicle. The core stage can be recycled and reused. It uses 9 Force-85 liquid oxygen kerosene engines (self-developed). The core stage uses 1 Force-85 vacuum version liquid oxygen kerosene engine.
(1) Basic information
high
Fairing diameter
Takeoff weight
Takeoff thrust
70 meters
5.2 meters
715 tons
990 tons
(2) Carrying capacity
low earth orbit
sun synchronous orbit
(500km)
geostationary transfer orbit
21.5 tons
15 tons
5.9 tons
3. Gravity 3: Gravity 3 adopts a CBC configuration of liquid core stage + liquid boost. The rocket core first stage and the booster are the same module, which can be recycled and reused. They both use 9 Force-85 liquid oxygen kerosene engines (self-developed), and the core second stage uses 1 Force-85 vacuum version liquid oxygen kerosene engine.
(1) Basic information
high
Fairing diameter
Takeoff weight
Takeoff thrust
70 meters
5.2 meters
1632 tons
2147 tons
(2) Carrying capacity
low earth orbit
sun synchronous orbit
(500km)
geostationary transfer orbit
61 tons
38 tons
17 tons
(2) Engine: Force-85 The Force-85 engine is a liquid oxygen kerosene engine with a thrust adjustment capability of 50%-110%. The pin-bolt injector design simplifies the engine system design, thereby reducing engine production costs.
1.Basic information
propellant
system
weight
Thrust adjustment range
Thrust to weight ratio
liquid oxygen kerosene
gas generator cycle
630kg
50%-
110%
135
2. Product performance
vacuum thrust
sea level thrust
Vacuum specific impulse
sea level specific impulse
95t
85t
325s
278.6s
5. Launch services
(1) Mounting method
1. Whole rocket reservation: Provide a targeted “Star-Arrow Joint Design” space transportation solution, and provide a rolling networking model that allows for advance production and storage after reservation, and launch on demand. 2. Carpooling: Supports carrying services for large-scale innovative payloads above the tonnage level, satellite networking, in-orbit services, direct connection of mobile phones to satellites and other diverse space exploration missions; it has layered loading capabilities, and the remaining space can carry small satellites.
(2) Launch price
According to the contract disclosed by Changguang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., Changguang Satellite signed a procurement contract with Oriental Space in April 2023 to purchase 4 Gravity-1 rockets. The total contract price was 780 million yuan, and each Gravity-1 rocket was 195 million yuan. Based on this calculation, the price of Gravity-1 is 45,000 yuan (500kmSS0) or 30,000 yuan (LEO). However, the above price is the bulk purchase price, and the price for single arrow purchase or carpooling should be increased based on this price.
6. Financing situation
time
rounds
Amount
investors
December 2020
Seed round
Undisclosed
aerospace industry investment
June 2021
angel wheel
400 million yuan
Matrix Partners, Sequoia China, Infinity Fund, etc.
January 2022
Pre-A round
Nearly 300 million yuan
Heyu Capital, Dinghe Gundam, Yunjiu Capital, etc.
May 2022
Series A
400 million yuan
Shanhang Capital, Dingheda, CMBC International, etc.
January 2024
Round B
Nearly 600 million yuan
Liangxi Science and Technology Innovation Industry Fund of Funds (Bohua Capital Management), Shenyin Wanguo Investment, Hongtai Fund, Xinding Capital and other new institutional investors have invested, and old shareholders Shanhang Capital, CMBC International, Dinghe Gold and others have continued to invest.
