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
The disciplinary body of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has called for reinforced anti-corruption efforts during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
The call was made in a communique adopted at the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), held from Monday to Wednesday in Beijing.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the session and delivered an important speech.
The plenary session reviewed the discipline inspection and supervision work during 2025 and assigned tasks for 2026. It adopted a work report delivered by Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CCDI, on behalf of the Standing Committee of the CCDI.
The session unanimously agreed to take guidance from Xi's important speech, persistently strengthen political oversight, and remain steadfast in improving conduct, enforcing discipline, and combating corruption.
It was noted at the session that in 2025, the top disciplinary body investigated, punished, and publicly exposed typical cases of discipline violations, to further promote improved work conduct and foster new practices across the Party.
Efforts were intensified to address corruption in key sectors such as finance, state-owned enterprises, energy, firefighting, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, higher education, and sports.
Campaigns were deepened to tackle misconduct and corruption that occurred at people's doorsteps. Reform of the discipline inspection and supervision system was also advanced in greater depth.
The session stressed that as China advances into the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the CPC faces fresh imperatives in advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance and must take more forceful and effective measures to eradicate the breeding ground and conditions for corruption.
The session emphasized the necessity of strengthening political oversight to support the achievement of the period's objectives and tasks. It called for taking strict actions against behavior in disregard of the rules, opportunism, sectarianism, a silo mentality, and unprincipled nice-guyism.
The session also urged improving long-term mechanisms to refine codes of conduct, while ramping up efforts to combat corruption in high-priority sectors. It further mandated tough scrutiny and punishment for collusion between officials and businessmen.
In addition, the session demanded more standardized and law-based discipline inspection and supervision work.
Party and state leaders including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi attended the session.
CPC calls for reinforced anti-corruption efforts during 15th Five-Year Plan period
