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
China is willing to open its original technologies to the whole world and share the fruits of innovation with all people, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Friday at a press conference in Beijing.
Lin noted that innovation has become a keyword for China's economic and social development.
The Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development adopted in October 2025 mentioned "innovation" 61 times, Lin said.
In recent years, according to the spokesman, China has seen major sci-tech achievements emerge thick and fast, and its global innovation index ranking has risen from 34th in 2012 to 10th in 2025.
"China has long regarded science and technology as the primary productive force. Through strengthened conceptual guidance, policy direction and institutional reforms, it has effectively leveraged its market and talent advantages, enabling enterprises to become the main actors of innovation. Through persistent and long-term efforts, China has forged a successful path with technological innovation leading industrial innovation, and industrial upgrading, in turn, promoting technological iteration. This has made innovation a fundamental driving force behind China's economic development," said Lin.
Lin said while competition may accompany the process of innovation, it is by no means the goal of innovation.
"China's innovation is notably open and open-source, in pursuit of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. China's space station has attracted the participation of 23 institutions from 17 countries for its first batch of cooperation projects. China's FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope) is open to observation applications from scientists worldwide. China has initiated the establishment of a global artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation organization and proposed the AI+ International Cooperation Initiative, and is committed to promoting open, inclusive, and beneficial AI development for all. DeepSeek is open to global developers in an open-source manner for use and improvement. These are just a few examples among many," Lin said.
"China is willing to share original technologies and innovation scenarios with the world. Through open cooperation, it aims for mutual empowerment and common growth, ensuring that the fruits of innovation better benefit all humanity," he said.
China willing to open its original technologies to world: FM spokesman
