The world’s strongest solid-fuel rocket simply aced its third-ever mission.
Gravity-1, a distinctively squat and stubby rocket, launched Tuesday evening (July 21) from the deck of a ship stationed off the coast of Shanghai.
Liftoff occurred at 10:54 p.m. EDT (0254 GMT and 10:54 a.m. Beijing time on July 22), based on the state-run Chinese language outlet Xinhua, which additional reported that each one 9 satellites reached “their designated orbits.” Particulars about these satellites weren’t offered.
Gravity-1 is operated by Orienspace, an organization primarily based within the jap Chinese language province of Shandong. The rocket stands about 100 toes (30 meters) tall — lower than half the peak of SpaceX‘s workhorse Falcon 9 car.
Gravity-1 consists of three core levels and 4 strap-on boosters, all of which function strong rocket motors. The launcher can haul as much as 14,300 kilos (6,500 kilograms) of payload to low Earth orbit (LEO), making it probably the most highly effective strong rocket on this planet. (For comparability: The liquid-fueled Falcon 9 can ship a most of fifty,265 kilos, or 22,800 kg, to LEO.)
The Chinese language car now has three flights below its belt, all of which launched from ships at sea and achieved full mission success. Gravity-1’s first two flights occurred in January 2024 and October 2025.
There will not be such a protracted hole earlier than Gravity-1 flies once more, if all goes to plan. The rocket is predicted to launch a batch of Chinese language web satellites within the subsequent few months, based on the state-run outlet CGTN.
And Orienspace’s ambitions do not finish with Gravity-1. The corporate can also be growing Gravity-2 and Gravity-3, bigger, extra highly effective rockets that can function liquid-fueled core levels and strong rocket boosters.
Gravity-2 could possibly be able to fly by the tip of the 12 months, CGTN reported. And that car will doubtless raise off from an ocean-based pad as properly.
“Sea launch of solid-propellant rockets paves the best way for future launch of liquid rockets at sea,” mentioned Gravity-1 chief designer Xu Guoguang, based on CGTN. “We’re additionally contemplating different strategies, similar to launching from drilling platforms.”
