China successfully launched the world's most powerful solid-propellant missile from the sea

Today at 13:30 Beijing time (8:30 Moscow time), the Chinese company OrienSpace successfully launched the Gravity-1 launch vehicle to launch three Yunyao-1 meteorological satellites into orbit. The launch is notable because the developer claims Gravity-1 as the most powerful solid-fuel launch vehicle in the world.

The three-stage Gravity-1 launch vehicle, about 30 m long, can launch up to 6,5 tons of payload into low Earth orbit with a total launch weight of the rocket and fuel of 405 tons. According to OrienSpace, the new rocket can launch up to 30 satellites into orbit, and the launch can be organized in as little as 7 days, and in some cases in 24 hours.



In the first test launch, Gravity-1 successfully launched three satellites of the Yunyao constellation with serial numbers 18, 19 and 20. In the future, the constellation will be increased to 90 satellites, which are designed to monitor the weather and changes in the earth’s atmosphere.


The rocket was launched from an offshore launch platform in the Yellow Sea near the city of Haiyan in the eastern province of Shandong. According to Chinese media reports, OrienSpace has become the fifth private space company in the country to create and successfully launch its own launch vehicle.