The stated mission of Space Pioneer is to "pursue new breakthroughs in technology and performance, [and] to select a technological path based on the needs of the commercial market to improve launch efficiency and reduce launch costs."[2]
Space Pioneer was founded in 2015[3] by Kang Yonglai.[2]
The company completed two funding rounds in 2019, including a ZJU Joint Innovation investment,[3] to continue liquidbipropellant engine development of the Tianhou series of rocket engines.
In April 2020, the company raised US$14 million in order to complete development of its 30 tf (66,000 lbf) liquid rocket engine Tianhuo-3, which had begun igniter hot fire tests in 2019.[3] This was followed in September with a "multiple hundreds of millions of yuan" (CN¥millions) Series A capital raise.[2]
The company secured US$30 millionventure capital funding in a pre-B funding round in July 2021. The funds were used to complete initial development of the Tianlong-1 reusablelaunch vehicle, a kerolox-propellant vehicle with a payload capacity to orbit exceeding 3 tonnes (6,600 lb), during 2021–22.[1]
In July 2023, Space Pioneer announced that it had raised hundreds of millions of yuan in C-round funding, bringing the total amount raised to around US$414 million. The funds will be used for the development of the Tianlong-3 reusable launch vehicle.[4]
Tianlong-2, another launch vehicle designed by the company, entered service in early 2023.[5] It is 32.8m tall, and it can lift up to 2t to LEO and 1.5t to 500km SSO.[6] The maiden flight of Tianlong-2 took place on 2 April 2023, successfully carrying the Jinta cubesat from Hunan Hangsheng Satellite Technology to a Sun-synchronous orbit. This mission represented the first successful launch of a Chinese privately funded, liquid-fueled, kerolox rocket with Space Pioneer becoming the first startup company to reach orbit on its maiden attempt.[7]
Tianlong-3 is a two-stage kerolox launch vehicle with a reusable first stage that is currently under development. It is designed to lift about 17t to LEO and 14t to 500km SSO, comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle. As of July 2023, the first launch is scheduled for May 2024.[8]
EnginesEdit
Tianhuo-1
Tianhuo-1 (TH-1) was the initial Space Pioneer rocket engine, with hot-fire ground testing completed before 2020.[2]
Tianhuo-2
Tianhuo-2 (TH-2) was developed subsequent to Tianhuo-1, with the first hot fire test of the engine was in early 2020.[3][2]
Tianhuo-3
Tianhuo-3 (TH-3) is a kerolox liquid-bipropellant rocket engine with 30 tonnes-force (66,000 lbf) of thrust. It is intended to be the main engine for the Tianlong-1 launch vehicle.[3] The engine had its first hot-fire test in December 2020, with a 50-second duration ground test run.[9]
First Chinese private launch firm to achieve orbit with a liquid propellant rocket, the first company in the world to reach orbit on its first attempt using a fully liquid fueled rocket.
^ abcJones, Andrew (27 July 2021). "Chinese rocket company Space Pioneer secures major funding ahead of first launch". SpaceNews. from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
^ abcde"Chinese Commercial Rocket Startup Space Pioneer Secures Series A". China Money Network. 17 September 2020. from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
^ abcdeJones, Andrew (14 April 2020). "Space Pioneer raises $14 million to develop green liquid rocket engines". SpaceNews. from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
^Jones, Andrew (7 July 2023). "Chinese launch firm secures fresh funding for reusable rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
^Jones, Andrew (13 February 2023). "Launches of Chinese commercial rockets could double in 2023". SpaceNews. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
^China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (16 October 2022). "Finally we have more data of the mysterious Tianlong-2: 32.8m tall 5.7m D3.35m fairing 190t liftoff thrust with 7 TH-11(?) 1 300KN closed-cycle kerolox TH-11 vacuum in 2nd stage TH-31 upper stage for payloads deployment 2t to LEO 1.5t to 500km SSO" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 October 2022 – via Twitter.
^China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (2 April 2023). "🚀 History made on April 02, 2023! Liftoff at ~08:48UTC, SPACE-PIONEER's Tianlong-2 successfully launched Jinta cubesat from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. 🎉 World's first startup to successfully launch a liquid fueled rocket to orbit on first attempt" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^Jones, Andrew (27 June 2023). "Chinese company plans to launch rocket comparable to Falcon 9 in 2024". SpaceNews. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
^"Tianbing technology's "Tianhuo 3" 30 ton liquid rocket engine has completed its first test run". EqualOcean. 29 July 2021. from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
^Jones, Andrew (3 April 2023). "China's Space Pioneer reaches orbit with liquid propellant rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
September 22, 2023
space, pioneer, chinese, 天兵科技, also, known, beijing, tianbing, technology, chinese, aerospace, company, developing, reusable, orbital, rocket, technology, both, launch, vehicles, liquid, rocket, engines, access, market, cost, space, launch, services, company, . Space Pioneer Chinese 天兵科技 also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology Co Ltd is a Chinese aerospace company developing reusable orbital rocket technology both launch vehicles and liquid rocket engines to access the market for low cost space launch services The company is aiming to meet launch requirements for both the Chinese national satellite internet project and also the CNSA solicitation for resupply of the Tiangong space station 1 Beijing Tianbing Technology Co Ltd Trade nameSpace PioneerNative name北京天兵科技有限公司TypePrivateIndustryAerospaceFounded2015 8 years ago 2015 FounderKang YonglaiHeadquartersBeijing ChinaWebsitewww wbr spacepioneer wbr ccThe stated mission of Space Pioneer is to pursue new breakthroughs in technology and performance and to select a technological path based on the needs of the commercial market to improve launch efficiency and reduce launch costs 2 Contents 1 History 2 Technology 2 1 Rockets 2 2 Engines 3 Launches 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory EditSpace Pioneer was founded in 2015 3 by Kang Yonglai 2 The company completed two funding rounds in 2019 including a ZJU Joint Innovation investment 3 to continue liquid bipropellant engine development of the Tianhou series of rocket engines In April 2020 the company raised US 14 million in order to complete development of its 30 tf 66 000 lbf liquid rocket engine Tianhuo 3 which had begun igniter hot fire tests in 2019 3 This was followed in September with a multiple hundreds of millions of yuan CN millions Series A capital raise 2 The company secured US 30 million venture capital funding in a pre B funding round in July 2021 The funds were used to complete initial development of the Tianlong 1 reusable launch vehicle a kerolox propellant vehicle with a payload capacity to orbit exceeding 3 tonnes 6 600 lb during 2021 22 1 In July 2023 Space Pioneer announced that it had raised hundreds of millions of yuan in C round funding bringing the total amount raised to around US 414 million The funds will be used for the development of the Tianlong 3 reusable launch vehicle 4 Technology EditSpace Pioneer is developing reusable spaceflight technology rather than the traditional expendable rocket technology Both launch vehicles and liquid rocket engines are being designed for reuse Rockets Edit Tianlong 1 is a kerosene liquid oxygen kerolox fueled vehicle using the Tianhuo 3 engine with a payload capacity to low Earth orbit exceeding 3 tonnes 6 600 lb 1 Tianlong 2 another launch vehicle designed by the company entered service in early 2023 5 It is 32 8m tall and it can lift up to 2t to LEO and 1 5t to 500km SSO 6 The maiden flight of Tianlong 2 took place on 2 April 2023 successfully carrying the Jinta cubesat from Hunan Hangsheng Satellite Technology to a Sun synchronous orbit This mission represented the first successful launch of a Chinese privately funded liquid fueled kerolox rocket with Space Pioneer becoming the first startup company to reach orbit on its maiden attempt 7 Tianlong 3 is a two stage kerolox launch vehicle with a reusable first stage that is currently under development It is designed to lift about 17t to LEO and 14t to 500km SSO comparable to SpaceX s Falcon 9 launch vehicle As of July 2023 the first launch is scheduled for May 2024 8 Engines Edit Tianhuo 1Tianhuo 1 TH 1 was the initial Space Pioneer rocket engine with hot fire ground testing completed before 2020 2 Tianhuo 2Tianhuo 2 TH 2 was developed subsequent to Tianhuo 1 with the first hot fire test of the engine was in early 2020 3 2 Tianhuo 3Tianhuo 3 TH 3 is a kerolox liquid bipropellant rocket engine with 30 tonnes force 66 000 lbf of thrust It is intended to be the main engine for the Tianlong 1 launch vehicle 3 The engine had its first hot fire test in December 2020 with a 50 second duration ground test run 9 Launches EditRocket amp Serial Date Payload Orbit Launch Site Outcome NotesTianlong 2 2 April 2023 08 48 UTC 10 Ai Taikong Kexue love space science SSO Jiuquan Success First Chinese private launch firm to achieve orbit with a liquid propellant rocket the first company in the world to reach orbit on its first attempt using a fully liquid fueled rocket See also Edit nbsp Spaceflight portal nbsp Companies portal nbsp China portali Space a competitive Chinese private launch company using solid rocket engine technology OneSpace a Chinese company competitorReferences Edit a b c Jones Andrew 27 July 2021 Chinese rocket company Space Pioneer secures major funding ahead of first launch SpaceNews Archived from the original on 27 July 2021 Retrieved 27 July 2021 a b c d e Chinese Commercial Rocket Startup Space Pioneer Secures Series A China Money Network 17 September 2020 Archived from the original on 20 February 2021 Retrieved 31 July 2021 a b c d e Jones Andrew 14 April 2020 Space Pioneer raises 14 million to develop green liquid rocket engines SpaceNews Archived from the original on 1 August 2021 Retrieved 27 July 2021 Jones Andrew 7 July 2023 Chinese launch firm secures fresh funding for reusable rocket SpaceNews Retrieved 21 September 2023 Jones Andrew 13 February 2023 Launches of Chinese commercial rockets could double in 2023 SpaceNews Retrieved 14 February 2023 China N Asia Spaceflight CNSpaceflight 16 October 2022 Finally we have more data of the mysterious Tianlong 2 32 8m tall 5 7m D3 35m fairing 190t liftoff thrust with 7 TH 11 1 300KN closed cycle kerolox TH 11 vacuum in 2nd stage TH 31 upper stage for payloads deployment 2t to LEO 1 5t to 500km SSO Tweet Retrieved 16 October 2022 via Twitter China N Asia Spaceflight CNSpaceflight 2 April 2023 History made on April 02 2023 Liftoff at 08 48UTC SPACE PIONEER s Tianlong 2 successfully launched Jinta cubesat from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center World s first startup to successfully launch a liquid fueled rocket to orbit on first attempt Tweet via Twitter Jones Andrew 27 June 2023 Chinese company plans to launch rocket comparable to Falcon 9 in 2024 SpaceNews Retrieved 21 September 2023 Tianbing technology s Tianhuo 3 30 ton liquid rocket engine has completed its first test run EqualOcean 29 July 2021 Archived from the original on 29 July 2021 Retrieved 29 July 2021 Jones Andrew 3 April 2023 China s Space Pioneer reaches orbit with liquid propellant rocket SpaceNews Retrieved 16 April 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Space Pioneer amp oldid 1176395856, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
