Minister of Space Industry announced readiness of satellite NVS-03 for launch within the NaVIC system

Over three days, from July 22 to 24, China conducted three rocket launches that deployed 15 satellites. These missions, carried out by the companies Orienspace Gravity-1, CZ-3B, and CAS Space Lijian-1, included payloads for artificial intelligence processing and space debris monitoring.

Launch Details and Payloads

The Orienspace Gravity-1 Y4 mission placed nine satellites into orbit from Eastern China. The CZ-3B rocket was used to launch Tianlian-2 06 from Sichuan. The CAS Space Lijian-1 Y15 agency delivered five satellites, including the first commercial space debris monitor and AI-based computing units.

The payloads demonstrate a clear trend toward the application of AI and task orientation. The CAS Space mission delivered Gande-1 01, which is the first commercial satellite for space debris observation, equipped with high-resolution and wide-field-of-view cameras. The Jitianxing A-04 satellite, developed jointly by Zhejiang Lab, Yunjian Information, MUSA GPU, and partners, uses a bore model for autonomous state management and independent mission planning, and is equipped with an intelligent MUSA GPU-based computing payload, an onboard router, and a laser communication terminal.

Furthermore, the Xiguang-2 03 satellite provides infrared sounding with three bands, while Yinglong Fengguang-1 carries meteorological microwave and infrared payloads.

Innovation and Mission Development

During the Orienspace Gravity-1 mission, the Lilac-3 satellite was launched. This apparatus is described as China's first UFO-shaped satellite, featuring an ultra-thin, lightweight, and highly integrated design compared to traditional CubeSats. It serves as a test platform for the low-cost deployment of global university satellite constellations. The onboard high-performance star tracker functions as a celestial eye for controlling satellite orientation and is the primary source of data for space situational awareness. This mission marks the fourth flight of Gravity-1, continuing Orienspace's pace of rapid launches, while the reusable liquid-fueled rocket Gravity-2 is under development for the fourth quarter of 2026.

CAS Space Lijian-1 successfully launched 110 satellites across 15 flights with a total payload mass exceeding 16 tons, becoming the only commercial rocket in China to surpass the threshold of 100 launched satellites. Deputy Commander Meng Xiangfu emphasized that this achievement is not just a number but confirmation of product maturity and delivery capability. The rocket has fully passed technological verification and engineering research to reach the stage of mature serial production and frequency-normalized launch. The rocket has served over 30 clients, including six international customers.

Commercial Success and Reliability

Chief Designer Shi Xiaonin noted that the rocket has captured one hundred percent market share in China's external commercial market. Thanks to specialized, joint, and flexible models, as well as standardized interfaces, CAS Space guarantees launch windows, ensuring rare reliability. The achievement of mature rocket technology is gradually lowering barriers across the entire commercial aerospace industry chain.

CAS Space conducted another launch of the Lijian-1 Y15 on July 24, during which five new satellites were placed into orbit. Thus, the total number of satellites delivered across 15 missions has reached 110, serving over 30 clients both domestically and internationally. CAS Space has established a stable monthly launch schedule.

Strategic Focus on Computing

The payload composition reflects the company's strategic emphasis on intelligent space computing. Among them is the Jitianxing A-04 satellite, which was jointly developed by Zhejiang Lab, Yunjian Information, MUSA GPU, and other partners. This satellite is equipped with a MUSA GPU-based computing payload, an onboard router, and a laser communication terminal. It is capable of deploying a large-scale model for autonomous state management, independent mission planning, instruction generation, and data processing directly on board.

Jitianxing A-04 embodies the concept of a three-part computing grouping, combining space computing, satellite interconnection, and orbital models. Furthermore, the Chenguang-1 satellite is designed to test new technologies for thermal mode control and space energy for in-space data centers. It carries commercial computing servers and a small remote sensing camera for conducting onboard computing experiments.

Space Situational Awareness Monitoring

In the field of space situational awareness, the Gande-1 01 satellite has advanced—it is China's first commercial satellite for monitoring space debris. It was developed by Liangxi Aerospace Technology Group and Aotian Technology. The satellite is equipped with a wide-angle surveillance camera and a high-precision measurement camera, allowing for the effective detection of small pieces of space debris. It also utilizes several new propulsion systems to enable large-scale orbit correction, supporting multi-orbit observation experiments and debris approach missions.

The onboard AI computer executes star extraction and correlation positioning algorithms through autonomous mission planning for regular patrolling, emergency response, and rapid tracking. Additionally, the meteorological satellite Yinglong Fengguang-1 carries microwave and infrared payloads for weather forecasting and disaster warning. The Xiguang-2 03 satellite provides three-band infrared surveying suitable for marine, aviation, and network applications.

Market Development Prospects

Chief designer Shi Xiaonin noted that the demand for satellite internet and space computing signals a transition to market-driven, scalable deployment. CAS Space employs pulsed manufacturing and modular satellite interfaces for rapid adaptation. Having completed 15 launches, CAS Space is among the most reliable commercial launch service providers globally.