Chinese company iSpace created headlines recently when it sent its own in-house developed rocket into space. The rocket is hauling three miniature satellites, setting another notch in the fledgling history of China's foray into private space ventures.
The SQX-1Z, launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, was carrying the three satellites. Two of those satellites were set to be released while the rocket was at suborbital level; they were meant to collect data and transmit them back to the company's command center, ABC News reports. The third rocket, meanwhile, will be re-entering Earth's atmosphere en route to releasing its parachutes to slow down its fall.
This marks an initial effort for a private space company from China to have released its satellites in space. iSpace is listed as a developer of "high-quality" space equipment while utilizing a "low-cost" approach. Their guarantee is that these satellites are "fast-responding". The company is also involved in making equipment and components that will serve manufacturers and operators, research institutes and universities, as well as the space flight program, eventually.
The satellites are miniature ones and are labeled 'CubeSats.' The SQX-1Z rocket, meanwhile, is iSpace's initial offering for a "low-cost" rocket, which will serve as the launch module for mini-satellite machines; small spacecraft that needs hauling. It will be presented to clients who need it, according to the company's spokesperson, Yao Bowen.
The suborbital rocket, as explained, only has an orbit one less complete than that of the Earth. Suborbital rockets can reach up to 100 km above sea level before they fall back, and are always used for scientific experiments and launching small and experimental satellites into Earth's orbit, Xinhua Net reveals.
The company has had a past history of a successful launch with the Hyperbola-1S. Launched April this year, the company launched the rocket from a launch pad somewhere in southern China, in the province of Hainan. Fueled by these successful launches, the company plans to create their own line of carrier rockets, the first of which is to be released in 2019.
iSpace joins a long line of private Chinese space companies to have launched a rocket into space successfully. Last May, OneSpace had their trial with the 9-meter OS-X; it was launched during a spaceflight test, where it splashed back down to Earth afterward.
