China National Space Administration Establishes New Commercial Space Department
A new regulatory body will oversee non-government space launches and satellites to better support the commercial space industry.
Via the Xinhua News Agency, the China National Space Administration has announced the establishment of its Commercial Space Department (国家航天局商业航天司) on November 29th to oversee the country’s sprawling and growing non-government sector space activities.
The new department’s establishment comes after the ‘Notice on Strengthening the Quality Supervision and Management of Commercial Space Projects (关于加强商业航天项目质量监督管理工作的通知)’ in July and the ‘Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality and Safe Development of Commercial Space (推进商业航天高质量安全发展行动计划)’ a few days ago. Both of those items from the China National Space Administration generally supported commercial space enterprises in all areas.
According to Xinhua and China Daily, China has over six hundred commercial space companies actively working on satellites, launch vehicles, components, supporting systems, and other items while also innovating upon them. As such, the Commercial Space Department will regulate their activities and promote development to benefit the industry. It was added that greater privileges and responsibilities will be given to the industry as it is proven that safety standards can be maintained.
Talk of a dedicated regulator has been sustained following a dynamic static fire in July 2024 involving Space Pioneer.
In People’s Daily’s piece about the newly established department, mention was made of market effects, suggesting that it will refine the space industry’s knowledge and logic of relevant laws and market rules. It was also noted, citing CITIC Securities Company Limited (中信证券股份有限公司), that:
“[The] Commercial Space Department will effectively integrate relevant functions across multiple departments. This move is expected to enable higher-level coordination and planning for the industry’s development, while also further improving the efficiency of key processes such as commercial space launch approvals and satellite operation license issuance.”
If there are any problems with this translation please reach out and correct me.
Relatedly, yesterday, November 28th, the Global Times reported that LandSpace, Galactic Energy, CAS Space, Space Pioneer, Yee Space (屹信航天)1, and MinoSpace (微纳星空)2 have had their initial public offering counseling and filings accepted by local securities regulatory bureaus as part of efforts to be listed on the sci-tech STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. If listed, the six companies will have access to greater capital and credit, based on their perceived market value.
The timing of the department’s establishment has come as three reusable rockets, two from commercial enterprises, are ready for maiden launches from Jiuquan, and a few weeks after Galactic Energy’s Ceres-1 suffered from its second failure. It is unknown if the Commercial Space Department’s establishment has had any immediate effects on the first launches and return-to-flight analysis.
Enterprises that will likely be unaffected by the new regulator will be the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the China Manned Space Agency, and their subsidiaries like the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the China Academy of Space Technology, and the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. This is because those enterprises are under the ownership and supervision of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (国务院国有资产监督管理委员会), which reports directly to top levels of the Chinese government.
Since Shan Zhongde (单忠德) became Administrator of the China National Space Administration3 at the start of the year, he has been performing the usual media duties as the head of China’s space program, including outlining government support for commercial space enterprises. Most recently, around Gravity-1’s second launch, he visited Haiyang (海阳市), in Shandong (山东) province, to inspect growing sea-launch space activities and to stress the need to follow rules and regulations while conversing with those from the commercial industry.
Via Pitchbook: Developer and producer of micro-satellite communication products intended to meet the needs of the commercial satellite, internet of things and aerospace industry. The company’s products include micro-satellite communication payloads, measurement and control, and digital transmission products, providing customers with the space satellite equipment needed to facilitate communication systems.
A satellite producer eyeing mega-constellations.
As part of his role as Party Secretary of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (国家国防科技工业局).