Cosmoleap, a Chinese launch startup, has successfully raised over 100 million yuan ($14 million) in funding for its Yueqian reusable rocket project.
The company aims to develop a low-cost, high-reliability launch vehicle that aligns with China's satellite Internet infrastructure ambitions. Cosmoleap plans to create a reusable rocket that can support China's megaconstellation plans for satellite Internet. The rocket, named Yueqian, is expected to undergo its first test flight in 2025 or 2026. It incorporates a recovery method inspired by SpaceX's "chopstick" landing system. The rocket is designed to be methane-fueled, with a diameter of 4.0 meters and a length of 75 meters. It has a payload capacity of 10,460 kilograms to a 1,000 km altitude orbit in expendable mode, and 6,280 kilograms when the first stage is recovered.
Cosmoleap also has plans for a larger rocket with a length of 126 meters, capable of carrying 100 tons to the same orbit when expended, or 36 tons when reused. The first launch of this larger vehicle is targeted for around 2030.
Investors in Cosmoleap believe that the company can leverage the commercial space supply chain and capitalize on its latecomer advantage in a competitive market. China's central government has identified commercial space as a strategic emerging sector and is actively supporting the development of space companies. Cosmoleap presented its vision for a medium-sized reusable commercial launch vehicle at an International Astronautical Congress, indicating its level of preparedness and positioning within the commercial spaceflight landscape.
The emergence of companies like Cosmoleap highlights the increasing role of private enterprises in shaping the future of space exploration and satellite deployment. With significant funding secured and ambitious plans in place, Cosmoleap is poised to contribute to China's broader goals in satellite technology and Internet connectivity.