A Chinese private rocket manufacturer has established a foothold in the industry by pioneering innovative solutions to low-cost commercial space launches.
Founded just seven years ago, Galactic Energy has already achieved 19 successful launches, deploying 81 satellites for 25 clients - a record that makes it China's first private firm to achieve successive launch successes.
This remarkable achievement is fueled by radical engineering ingenuity. Galactic Energy has applied 3D printing technology into rocket engine manufacturing, slashing costs while improving efficiency.
"Traditional engines have a long manufacturing cycle and high costs. It takes about six months to make one. Now, by adopting a 3D printing solution, we've shortened the production cycle to less than one month, and the cost is only around 6,000 or 7,000 yuan, nearly one-tenth of the original cost. The weight is also reduced by half," said Liu Baiqi, founder and CEO of the company.
In addition, the Beijing-based firm has also made a bold design of a four-stage integrated rocket that is not divided into different sections, so as to reduce its weight.
"By removing sections from this structure, we reduced its weight by 75 kilograms. That means an extra 75 kilograms of payload capacity. At a typical rate of 100,000 yuan (about 14,000 U.S. dollars) per kilogram, carrying 75 kilograms more satellites generates an additional 7.5 million yuan per launch," Liu said.
Another striking innovation of the Galactic Energy addresses the problem of space debris. Rather than letting spent rocket parts become orbital junk, the company transforms them into functional satellites.
"So we modified it. You can see this panel. We attached a solar panel to the rocket to provide continuous power and added satellite attitude control and communication components. This part of the rocket is thus transformed into a satellite. What can this satellite be used for? First, it can conduct space environment tests and verification for new satellite components and parts. Second, it can perform low-cost space debris removal," Liu said.
Galactic Energy now flies the CERES-1 carrier rockets and is developing the CERES-2, which is expecting its first flight in late August.
Chinese private rocket maker defies the odds through innovation
A Chinese-owned UK firm is optimistic about the development prospects of China's aviation market and looks forward to taking cooperation with other Chinese aircraft manufacturers to new heights.
Business ties between the two countries are in the spotlight as the British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper embarks on a three-day trip to China from Monday to Wednesday, which saw her meet with senior Chinese officials and attend the 11th China-UK Strategic Dialogue.
It comes after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the country earlier this year, with the two sides agreeing to develop a "long-term, stable comprehensive strategic partnership."
One company that illustrates the depth of ties between the UK and China is Gardner Aerospace. Headquartered in Derby in central England, the aerospace manufacturer produces millions of aircraft components every year and has built up operations in both countries.
The crucial aluminum components it produces may not be visible to passengers, but they are vital in keeping planes in the sky, ranging from small fittings to structures for wings measuring up to 16 meters. At Gardner Aerospace's Derby facility, parts are made for major airplane companies including Airbus, Boeing and Rolls-Royce, but a network of sites, stretching from the UK, to Poland, India and China produce around 2.5 million components every year.
Since 2017, the company has been owned by a Chinese parent group based in southwest China's Sichuan Province, while maintaining its manufacturing roots in the UK.
The firm's CEO Philipp Visotsching highlighted the need for such well-connected supply chains spanning the globe, and said having facilities spread across different countries allows the company to serve customers more efficiently. "Aerospace is a global industry, as such supply chains are completely intertwined, there is production all over the world, and at the end an aircraft doesn't fly if there is a part missing. So you need to have a completely intertwined supply chain," said Visotsching.
While Europe is now largely a replacement market for aircraft, industry growth is increasingly being driven by Asia, he added. "Aerospace or aviation has enjoyed growth rates far beyond GDP over the last 30 years. It is expected to [continue to] grow beyond GDP, and most of this growth comes from Asia. This is where we want to capture the market," said Visotsching. China's home-grown aircraft manufacturer COMAC could be an important new source of business for Gardner Aerospace, but China's importance goes beyond simply being a market for aircraft parts.
Company representatives stress that a strong relationship between Britain and China has created key opportunities to develop the entire industry.
"We can all learn from each other. It's really emerging in China. They have a different view. There is a cultural difference as well, a different way of looking at things. And I think that the cross exchange between what we are doing in the UK and what China is doing and how they look at how the industry can develop, I think that's very important," said Sebastian Berckmans, the Group Quality Director for Gardner Aerospace.
UK aerospace firm looks to tap into development prospects of China's growing aviation market
