Emphasis will be placed on achieving breakthroughs in areas like vertical rocket recovery, suborbital crewed flight, and space debris mitigation.
In a forward-looking initiative, Beijing’s municipal government has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to bolster the growth of commercial aerospace and satellite constellations, positioning them as key industries of the future.
The plan, outlined in a notice issued by the General Office of the Beijing Municipal Government on September 8, aligns with broader national directives set in motion over the past two years.
Under this strategic framework, Beijing aims to foster innovation in critical domains including the development of reusable rockets, crewed suborbital flights, software-defined satellites, flat-panel satellites, integrated satellite constellations, remote sensing, and ground segments.
The focal industries outlined in the notice encompass information technology (including 6G, AI, and quantum information), manufacturing, health, energy, materials, and space.
The commercial space component of the plan envisions the rapid advancement of technologies such as medium and large commercial rockets, 3D printed rockets, reusable full-flow staged combustion cycle rocket engines, and recoverable commercial payload spacecraft.
Emphasis will be placed on achieving breakthroughs in areas like vertical rocket recovery, suborbital crewed flight, and space debris mitigation.
Moreover, the plan targets bolstered support for communication satellites, flat-panel satellites, software-defined satellites, and standardized satellite platforms.
Additional priorities include laser communications, high-precision radar and optical imaging, as well as low-cost phased array antennas. The plan’s objectives encompass the establishment of high-resolution, rapid-revisit optical and radar remote sensing constellations, low-orbit Internet of Things satellites, and low-orbit navigation enhancement constellations.
These endeavors notably align with China’s previously announced national plan for a space-ground integrated information network (SGIIN). This ambitious initiative seeks to create an integrated system fusing communications, remote sensing, navigation, weather, and other satellite capabilities.
Beijing’s strategic position as a hub for established state-owned and emerging commercial aerospace companies makes it an ideal locus for these advancements. Rocket companies primarily operate in the southern part of the city, while satellite-related enterprises are clustered in the north.
Several prominent commercial launch startups, including Landspace, iSpace, Galactic Energy, Deep Blue Aerospace, and Space Pioneer, are headquartered or have facilities in Beijing. Likewise, satellite-focused companies like GalaxySpace, Minospace, Smart Satellite, and HEAD Aerospace engage in various activities ranging from satellite communications to small satellite manufacturing and remote sensing capabilities.
While the notice outlines areas of focus, specific measures such as research and development incentives or policy support are yet to be detailed.
The proactive stance taken by Beijing’s municipal government is a tangible manifestation of China’s overarching goals for future industries. Local governments are tasked with adapting and implementing national plans to suit local conditions while adhering to the central government’s overall objectives.
In 2023, China’s commercial launch sector is experiencing a landmark year, marked by significant milestones achieved by companies like CAS Space, Galactic Energy, iSpace, Expace, Space Pioneer, and Landspace. Notably, this includes the successful debut of commercial liquid propellant launches and the deployment of innovative flat-panel communications satellites.