Chinese Private Space Company Rocket Flight Test Fails... Second Failure in Six Months

Following February's launch failure, consecutive failures
Many Chinese space companies... "Lack of technology and experience"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] It has been reported that a rocket flight test by a Chinese private space company failed again six months after the previous failure in February. China is accelerating efforts to foster private space companies to compete with the U.S. SpaceX, but due to difficulties in acquiring technology caused by U.S. sanctions and declining investor confidence, significant challenges are expected in nurturing space companies.

According to Chinese local media including Xinhua News Agency on the 3rd, China's private space launch company 'Xingjilongyao (星際榮耀·i-space)' launched its self-developed Shuangqixian-1 rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province, but the flight test reportedly failed. Xingjilongyao stated that the separated satellite did not successfully enter orbit.

The Shuangqixian-1 rocket, which failed the flight test by Xingjilongyao, is a small solid-fuel rocket with a maximum diameter of 1.4 meters and a length of approximately 20.8 meters. It can carry a payload weighing 300 kg to low Earth orbit. This rocket is expected to deliver parts for the space station construction project currently being promoted by the Chinese government.

Xingjilongyao is one of the space companies nurtured by China since 2014 to rival the U.S. SpaceX, and it became the first Chinese private company to successfully launch a commercial space rocket in July 2019. However, following the rocket flight test conducted in February, the second flight test conducted six months later also failed consecutively.

The U.S. space media Space.com pointed out, "Besides this company, Chinese private space companies have been attempting commercial space rocket launches since 2018, but due to limitations in technology and experience, they have repeatedly failed," adding, "Although space companies are emerging rapidly under the Chinese government's fostering policies, the situation remains too uncertain for investors to find them attractive."