China on Wednesday successfully launched its Gravity-1 commercial: The wider industry impact

A Gravity-1 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Shanghai, east China, July 22, 2026. (Xinhua)

China on Wednesday successfully launched its Gravity-1 commercial rocket from the East China Sea, placing nine satellites into their designated orbits and carrying out one payload experiment. Developed by ORIENSPACE, the 30-metre, 405-tonne Gravity-1 lifted off at 10:54 am from a launch vessel operated by the Oriental Aerospace Port in Shandong province. Gravity-1 is the world’s first medium-lift launch vehicle with all-solid-propellant strap-on boosters, capable of carrying 6.5 tonnes to low-Earth orbit and 4.2 tonnes to a 500-km sun-synchronous orbit.

Officials said the mission successfully validated the rocket’s ability to operate under complex offshore conditions, remain launch-ready for extended periods at sea, and support cross-sea launch operations. Chinese officials said the mission also marked another step in expanding the country’s coordinated sea-launch network and improving operational flexibility for future commercial space missions. The mission marked the first far-sea launch by a privately developed commercial rocket, demonstrating China’s growing capability in long-range maritime launch operations. The launch was conducted under the direction of the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.