Commercial launch providers shortlisted for China’s low-cost cargo spacecraft

China’s human spaceflight agency, CMSEO, has selected four commercial rocket companies—Galactic Energy, CAS Space, OrienSpace, and Landspace—to launch the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft, a new low-cost resupply system for the Tiangong space station. The decision follows the successful March 30 launch of a prototype Qingzhou, which completed rendezvous tests in April. A public tender notice posted June 5 named the four companies, though no final provider has been chosen yet. The full-scale Qingzhou, developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites (IAMCAS), is tentatively set for launch in January 2027. It will dock at Tiangong to deliver supplies, weighing around 5,000 kg with a cargo capacity of at least 1,800 kg for uplinks and 2,600 kg for downlinks. This initiative is part of China’s broader plan to develop two low-cost cargo spacecraft, alongside the Haolong, a reusable mini-shuttle under development by AVIC’s Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute. Currently, China relies on the Tianzhou freighter, which weighs 14,000 kg and launches on a Long March 7 rocket, for Tiangong resupply missions. The most recent Tianzhou-10 mission launched May 11. The Qingzhou and Haolong projects aim to provide more cost-effective alternatives while supporting Tiangong’s expansion plans. The shortlisted companies are at varying stages of readiness. CAS Space’s Kinetica-2 launched the Qingzhou prototype, while Landspace’s Zhuque-2E has flown five times, including a failure in August 2025. Galactic Energy’s Pallas-1 rocket is preparing for its first launch, and OrienSpace’s Gravity-1 solid rocket is operational, with the liquid-fueled Gravity-2 potentially debuting in October. This shift toward commercial launch providers aligns with China’s ambitions to enhance autonomous and scalable resupply capabilities for Tiangong. The initiative underscores the growing role of private companies in supporting China’s space station program.