my country’s first unicorn company in commercial aerospace | Decode Galaxy Aerospace (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd.

1. Company Profile

Galaxy Aerospace (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. is a commercial satellite company focusing on independent research and development and low-cost mass production of communication payloads, core stand-alone machines, and satellite platforms. It is currently one of the commercial aerospace companies with the highest valuation in China.

2. Introduction to the founder

Xu Ming: Graduated from the Mechanical Engineering Department (Department 8) of Harbin Institute of Technology in 1996. Joined Qihoo Company in July 2005 as senior technical manager. In 2007, he served as the technical director of 360 Personal Software Division and was responsible for the development of Qihoo 360 product line. After leaving Qihoo, he co-founded Keniu Company with Fu Sheng and served as CTO. After Keniu Company merged with Kingsoft Network, he succeeded him as CTO. He once served as the president of Cheetah Mobile and worked for Cheetah Mobile for 8 years. He resigned as president of Cheetah Mobile in 2018 and founded Galaxy Aerospace Company.

3. Important nodes

time

specific events

January 16, 2020

Successfully launched my country’s most powerful low-orbit broadband communication satellite – Galaxy Space First Star, and completed many key technical verifications such as the construction of the Q/V band feed link.

March 5, 2022

Independently developed and successfully launched my country’s first batch-developed six low-orbit broadband communication satellites – Galaxy Space 02 batch production satellites, completing the verification of satellite low-cost, batch development and network operation capabilities necessary for my country’s construction of satellite Internet mega-constellations.

July 23, 2023

It independently developed and successfully launched my country’s first satellite using flexible solar wings – Galaxy Space Lingxi 03, completing the verification of my country’s first on-orbit stacked launch technology for multiple satellites.

4. Product introduction

(1) Whole star

Satellite products mainly include flat-panel stacked satellite platforms, 200-700kg communication satellite platforms, 100-500kg remote sensing satellite platforms, smart satellite platforms, etc., which can fully meet the application needs of satellite broadband communications, optical remote sensing, SAR, navigation enhancement, spectrum sensing and other fields.

1. Galaxy Space First Generation Communication Satellite-Test Star

On January 16, 2020, Galaxy Space’s first-generation communication satellite (GS-1a) was successfully launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. As Galaxy Space’s first satellite, this satellite is China’s first low-orbit broadband communication satellite in the Q/V/Ka frequency band. The successful launch of the GS-1a test satellite completed my country’s first low-orbit satellite Internet 5G communication test.

High communication capacity

long service

High flexibility

Strong autonomy

Up to 48Gbps

A single star can provide continuous communication for more than 8 minutes

Ability to update software on-orbit

Can operate autonomously for more than 1 month without ground support

2. Galaxy Space First Generation Communication Satellite-Batch Production Satellite

On March 5, 2022, the Galaxy Space First Generation Communications Satellite (GS-2P) was successfully launched at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The GS-2P batch satellite is the 02 batch satellite of Galaxy Aerospace. There are a total of 6 satellites, all of which are independently designed and developed by Galaxy Aerospace. The successful launch of the GS-2P batch satellite has verified that my country has the satellite low-cost, batch development and network operation capabilities necessary to build a satellite Internet mega-constellation. Compared with the 01 test star, the weight of a single star produced in the 02 batch has dropped by nearly 20%, and the cost has dropped by more than 50%. The GS-1a test satellite and six GS-2P mass-produced satellites together form my country’s first low-orbit broadband communication test constellation “Little Spider Web”, which has the ability to provide uninterrupted, low-latency broadband communication services for about 30 minutes at a time. In addition, GS-2P is also equipped with a 2m resolution optical remote sensing payload, which is of positive significance for promoting the development of my country’s commercial low-orbit satellite communication and remote sensing integration technology.

Tongyao integrated

long service

High self-research rate

High launch cost-effectiveness ratio

The satellite is equipped with a broadband communication payload and a 2m resolution optical remote sensing payload.

A single continuous communication shall not be less than 30 minutes

The communication loads on the satellite are all self-developed, and the core of the platform is self-developed.

Adapt to the batch launch of multiple satellites with one rocket to improve the efficiency of carrying capacity

3. Galaxy Space Second Generation Communication Satellite-Test Star

Galaxy Space’s second-generation communication satellite fully inherits the first-generation communication satellite platform and adopts modular platform hardware + flexible application software architecture to achieve high integration, high reliability, strong capability and strong autonomy of the satellite platform. The satellite also adds on-board comprehensive processing loads, inter-satellite laser terminals, phased array antennas, QV feed loads, and navigation enhancement loads. It has the characteristics of multi-load compatibility, hardware reuse, software reconstruction, autonomous operation, and flexible scalability.

Satellite launch weight

design life

Satellite carrier-to-interference ratio

Whole star power

Cooling capacity

600kg

7 years

50%

4600W

3600W

4. Galaxy Aerospace stackable flat-panel satellite

On July 23, 2023, Galaxy Space Lingxi 03 was successfully launched at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. Lingxi 03 is my country’s first stackable flat-panel satellite using flexible solar wings. Its successful launch has completed my country’s verification of multi-satellite stack launch technology in orbit, and is of great significance to my country’s rapid deployment of giant low-orbit communication constellations. The stackable flat-panel satellite adopts an integrated multi-functional frame, a highly integrated comprehensive electronic system, and is equipped with a high storage ratio flexible solar wing, an active thermal control fluid circuit, a digital processing load, a phased array antenna, and a mature QV feed load. The satellite is suitable for low-cost, rapid batch development of entire satellites, supports stacked launch of multiple satellites with one rocket, and has the ability to rapidly deploy constellations.

High efficiency

High flexibility

High load capacity

batch production

One arrow, multiple satellites stacked launch, inter-satellite laser link

Flexible digital payload (OBP+DBF)

Single star capacity exceeds 15Gbps, power 3600W

1 capsule/7 days

5. Wide visible light remote sensing satellite

The wide-band visible light remote sensing satellite weighs about 160kg. It adopts high-precision spliced ​​imaging and a multi-channel camera space-borne integrated structure design. It has the characteristics of large width, high agility, multi-spectrum and lightweight, and supports multiple observation modes of co-orbital multi-strip pushbroom and stereoscopic imaging.

Large width

High agility

multispectral observations

A single push sweep width exceeds 115km

It has the ability to maneuver and stabilize within 45°/50s, and supports co-orbital stereoscopic imaging.

Supports 6 spectrum band observations including red edge spectrum band

6. Medium wave infrared remote sensing satellite

The medium-wave infrared remote sensing satellite adopts a space-borne integrated modular platform design. Through independent mission planning technology for on-board resources, it can obtain all-day infrared image observation capabilities with a geometric resolution of not less than 10m and a temperature resolution of not less than 0.2K@300K. It supports strip push frame and co-orbital multi-target maneuvering gaze imaging in orbit. The imaging performance is at the domestic leading level among micro satellites.

High autonomy

All-in-one satellite

High overall efficiency

Independently realize co-orbital multi-target maneuverable gaze imaging on the satellite

Integrated design of platform load structure configuration

It has the ability to dynamically adjust the design of “reduced ground speed” imaging, allowing flexible configuration selection between imaging quality and imaging efficiency to obtain optimal performance.

(2) Stand-alone machines and components Galaxy Aerospace has advanced payload products such as microwave communication payloads, phased array antennas, and digital processing payloads, as well as core platform products such as integrated electronics, energy, and measurement and control. 1.Q/V band feed antenna

The Q/V feed antenna independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace is a dual-axis mechanically movable broadband dual circularly polarized ring focus antenna, which is used for sending and receiving low-orbit broadband satellite feed signals.

2.V/S transceiver component

The V/S transceiver component independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace is used at the feed end of broadband communication satellites to achieve low-noise reception, frequency down-conversion, up-conversion and power amplification between the feed V-band signal and the intermediate-frequency S-band signal.

3.QV antenna closed-loop drive controller

The QV antenna closed-loop drive controller independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace is a servo product specially designed for the spaceborne QV antenna rotation mechanism. It has a single-board dual-machine cold standby architecture and has high redundancy and reliability. The module integrates stepper drivers and servo drivers, adopts a low-cost, lightweight design, and has rich on-orbit verification data.

4.Ka-band multi-beam phased array antenna

The Ka-band phased array antenna independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace adopts a microsystem integration architecture, and the array is arranged in a non-periodic spiral pattern to achieve four independently controllable beams. The product has completed qualification tests.

5.X-band data transmission payload

The X-band data transmission load independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace can complete the modulation and power transmission of on-board data. The data transmission unit uses a low-power SRAM type FPGA to implement LDPC (8160, 7136) encoding of data, and uses microwave direct modulation to implement data QPSK modulation. The data transmission antenna uses a tile-type, low-profile phased array antenna to achieve wide-angle point scanning of the beam.

6. Satellite integrated management unit

The satellite integrated management unit independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace adopts a two-in-one design of attitude control computer and satellite computer, with a high-performance satellite computer as the core, to achieve comprehensive electronic information collection and processing, and complete functions such as power distribution, attitude control, thermal control, remote control and telemetry, motor drive, and load management.

7.S/V band measurement and control transponder

The S/V band measurement and control transponder independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace is dual-band, compatible with S and V band measurement and control, compatible with non-coherent spread spectrum measurement and control and medium and low-speed data transmission functions, and completes remote control, telemetry, measurement and medium and low-speed data transmission functions. It also has encryption and decryption functions. There are already many satellites flying in orbit.

8. Power subsystem PCDU

The power subsystem PCDU independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace carries out energy transmission and power allocation between the solar array and the battery pack. It adopts the S3R semi-regulated busbar design and has functions such as power distribution and sailboard unlocking to provide a reliable and safe primary busbar for satellites.

9. Flexible solar wings

Flexible solar wings are more versatile primary energy products that can adapt to the different envelope requirements of various types of satellites and have the characteristics of high power, light weight, and small envelope. Galaxy Aerospace has completed the full-process identification and production and assembly of a certain type of flexible solar wing prototype. The single wing of the product is larger than 18 square meters, and the maximum can be more than 50 square meters. The thickness of the single-layer solar cell blanket component is less than 1.2mm. It uses a two-dimensional drive device to achieve sun orientation at all angles.

10. Rigid solar wing

Rigid solar wings are the most typical spacecraft mechanism products, providing primary energy for satellites. Galaxy Aerospace has completed on-orbit verification of 14 sets of products, and is developing more than 30 sets of Type 4 products with single wings ranging from 0.5 to 20 square meters. It has completed the development of multiple types of rigid solar wing products including high stiffness, step-release secondary deployment, and biaxial deployment.

11. Flat-panel satellite satellite and arrow separation mechanism

The flat-panel satellite satellite separation mechanism independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace is suitable for stackable flat-panel satellite satellites and inter-satellite separation. It can meet the stacking and compaction needs of large-scale flat-plate structures. It can adapt to the launch requirements of 6 to 60 stacked satellites. It has the ability to carry large loads and orderly release multiple satellites, and can be released step by step. The initial sample product identification and full sample product production have been completed and will be verified in orbit.

12.Ka user transmitting antenna

The Ka user transmitting antenna independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace adopts a circularly polarized open waveguide linear array and is used for the transmission of low-orbit satellites to ground users. The antenna achieves the 16 beam coverage requirements of the user link by using 2 components. Each component is composed of 8 linear array units and brackets. It has the characteristics of low side lobes, light weight, and low cost.

13.Ka user receiving antenna

The Ka user receiving antenna independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace is used for low-orbit satellites to receive ground user signals. It uses 2 components to form 16 elliptical beams. Each component is composed of 8 circularly polarized open waveguide linear arrays. The antenna array is designed and processed using industrial profiles, which has high processing efficiency, low cost, and high product batch production efficiency.

14. Spaceborne GNSS antenna

The spaceborne GNSS antenna independently developed by Galaxy Aerospace adopts a microstrip printed antenna structure and a single feed point method, which can achieve reception coverage of GPS and BD satellite civil band navigation signals. The antenna has a wide beam, is light in weight, and has low cost, making it suitable for mass production.

5. Financing situation

time

rounds

Amount

investors

January 2017

angel wheel

tens of millions of yuan

CICC Huicai’s funds led the investment, followed by Shunwei Capital

May 2017

Pre-A round financing

not disclosed

Huicai Private Capital

January 2018

Series A

not disclosed

IDG Capital, Shunwei Capital

November 2018

A+ round

not disclosed

IDG Capital, Gaorong Capital, Source Code Capital, etc.

September 2019

Round B

not disclosed

IDG Capital, Legend Capital, Jiantou Huake, Shunwei Capital

November 2020

B+ round

not disclosed

CICC Capital, Legend Capital, Chaos Investment, Source Code Capital, Matrix Partners China, Shunwei Capital, Hillhouse Capital

September 2022

Round B2

not disclosed

CCB International led the investment, followed by Anhui Sanzhong Yichuang Fund, Hefei Industrial Investment, and Zhenwei Fund. Old shareholders Legend Capital and Chaos Investment continued to follow suit.

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