Chinese private company first launched satellites into orbit

A missile developed by China's iSpace company was launched with three small satellites, marking an important milestone for the country's space industry.

Chinese media reported that the SQX-1Z rocket was launched from the launch site of the Jiuquan Satellite Center, Gansu Province, northwest of China last week. The missile will fly to Earth's low orbit and bring the satellites here.

The SQX-1Z rocket was launched from the launch site in Xuquan, Gansu carrying small-sized satellites onto Earth's low orbit.(Photo: Chinanews.com).

Two of the three satellites will be sent into low-altitude orbit, about 160km above the ground, while the third satellite will be dropped back to controlled Earth.

This is the first time a private company in China has launched satellites into space. Established in 2016, iSpace is focusing on developing high quality, but low-cost commercial launches to meet the rising demand of airline companies, research institutes and universities. domestically and internationally.

China's space program was previously managed by the military, but in the wake of the emergence of private companies in the US such as SpaceX or Blue Origin, the billion-dollar nation also began to allow private be involved in this field.

Earlier in May, OneSpace Technologies, which set up an office in Beijing, for the first time launched a rocket into space. The 9-meter OS-X rocket had a test flight close to Earth orbit and quickly flew back to Earth safely.