Orienspace Gravity-1 RMB 3 launches nine satellites from East China Sea

At 06:00 on September 16, 2026, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center used a Gravity-1 RMB 3 carrier rocket in waters east of Shanghai to send nine satellites into their planned orbits: the Qianfan polar-orbit Group 26 satellites and an EUHT technology test satellite. The flight test mission was a complete success. The payload comprised eight Qianfan constellation networking satellites and one EUHT technology test satellite. The rocket was developed by Orienspace and was named Qianfan Quanshun.

The mission carried a net payload of more than 3 tonnes to an orbital altitude of about 800 kilometres, setting new Chinese records for payload mass and orbital altitude in a single sea launch and verifying the adaptability of the sea-launch mode to medium and large satellite payload missions. This was the first time Gravity-1 has conducted a launch to build a large low-Earth-orbit satellite internet constellation, and the fourth flight of the rocket model. Gravity-1 has now carried out four sea launches, all successful. The payload adopted a combination of stacked satellite assemblies and flat-panel satellite assemblies, placing higher demands on multiple-separation control technology.

The satellites launched on this mission were manufactured in Shanghai and launched in waters near Shanghai. Orienspace has established a full industrial chain covering research and development, testing, production and launch. Its core business is launch services for carrier rockets, and it has invested in two satellite operating companies. Gravity-1 is already capable of launching 200 to 400 kilogram-class satellites, from ten satellites on one rocket to more than eighteen satellites in one orbit. Under its schedule, it plans to carry out three batch satellite launch missions within 2026.

Since the start of 2026, Orienspace has completed Pre-C round and C round financing, raising a total of more than several billion yuan, with funds focused on the research, development and production of the Gravity-2 large liquid reusable rocket. The company has formally opened C++ round financing. Under its overall plan, it will soon start work related to a shareholding reform, after which it will launch listing guidance at an appropriate time.