"Origin Space (Nanjing) Technology Co., Ltd." is a commercial space company dedicated to the exploitation and utilization of space resources. In the more than two years since its establishment, Origin Space has completed the on-orbit verification of 5 satellites, including the first UV-band commercial satellite in China, the first large-field X-ray detection satellite using "lobster eye" imaging technology in the world, the world's first prototype robot for space mining, and the first space telescope in the visible and ultraviolet bands on the mainland.
The status of the final assembly test of the "Yangwang-1" telescope before launch, image source: Origin Space
Constellation construction: looking up at the constellation, NEO series, deep space lunar approach detection
On June 11, 2021, the first optical and ultraviolet space telescope in mainland China, Yangwang-1, was successfully launched, and it is also the world's first commercial space telescope. While carrying out multi-band astronomical observation missions, Yangwang-1 is also exploring the feasibility of many commercial observations and cooperation.
According to the report of origin space, after two months of successful orbital deployment, "Looking Up I" not only completed the high-definition shooting of the Milky Way galaxy and and the Andromeda Nebula, but also successfully captured the moving images of medium and high-orbit artificial celestial bodies such as the star chain and the Chinese space station. In addition, Yangwang-1 is also involved in the field of luminous remote sensing, and has taken very clear luminous images, which is of great significance for socio-economic parameter estimation, urban monitoring, ecological environment assessment and other fields.
Su Meng, founder and CEO of Origin Space, told 36Kr that Origin Space plans to complete the launch plan of "Yangwang-2" in the second half of this year. "Looking Up No. 2" has an average of an order of magnitude improvement in the main performance indicators, such as the effective number of cells, readout noise, dark current, resolution, attitude pointing accuracy, attitude stability, storage capacity, transmission rate and so on. "Looking up at the second" will have stronger observation capabilities of dark and weak targets, better observation quality, longer observation time, and richer data volume. In terms of functional positioning, "Yangwang-1" has successfully verified multiple scenarios, accumulated observation experience, enriched application scenarios, and is far better than expected at the beginning of the project, especially on the basis of nearly one year of operation, with the iterative design of Yangwang-2, there has been a significant improvement in the observation of near-Earth small object targets, planetary defense, space target observation and other directions.
In addition to looking up at the constellations, the NEO series of space resource mining constellations originating in space is also advancing as planned. On April 27, 2021, the Origin Space NEO-01 mining robot was successfully launched. The commercial spacecraft is dedicated to the exploitation of space resources and is the first generation of equipment for the future realization of mining and asteroid mining as a whole. In addition to the main mission, the NEO-01 is also equipped with a camera to help researchers study the experimental process in space. The NEO-01 spacecraft is currently operating well and will soon be successfully in orbit for a year, having successfully conducted a series of established experiments and collecting a large amount of data from the four payloads.
In addition to the launch plan of "Yangwang-2" in the second half of this year, Origin Space also plans to launch a small space laboratory verification satellite. In 2023, origin space program completed the launch mission of the Look-Up Constellation series satellites 3, 4, 5 and NEO series 02 satellites.
For commercial deep space lunar approach exploration projects, the main technical solutions have been basically determined, including the main payload, approach mode, orbit design, etc. A series of technical proficiency verification missions will be carried out in the near future, which is scheduled to be implemented in 2024.
Cairo night remote sensing rendering, image source: Origin Space
Business Development Program: Unique data resource
As a startup on the cutting-edge science track, how to translate scientific research capabilities into actual business is a question often asked by origin space followers.
In fact, Origin Space has been very pragmatic since its inception, always striking a balance between scientific research missions and application businesses to avoid the trap of the original space mining companies that could not operate sustainably due to the rapid consumption of funds. Through the expansion of university scientific research missions, space target observation, data distribution and other businesses, the source of income from the origin space is also more diversified.
Su Meng said that the development of actual business and the progress of technology are a complementary process. After the launch of the "Yangwang-1" space telescope, in addition to completing the new observation capabilities verified by astronomical scientific research observations, it has also produced potential development application areas such as artificial space object observation and luminous remote sensing shooting, and the origin space is building the world's largest and most complete small object data platform (collection, processing, analysis), and has iteratively developed the corresponding data analysis software.
Unique data resources are the biggest advantage of data resource services provided by Origin Space. At present, the market demand for in-orbit observation of small celestial bodies and ultra-high-precision orbit determination observation of artificial targets in space is strong. In July and October 2021, SpaceX launched a starlink satellite that approached the Chinese space station twice. For safety reasons, the Chinese space station assembly has twice implemented preventive collision avoidance control ("emergency collision avoidance") for the "Starlink" satellite. With the continuous launch of the "Starlink" satellite, whether it is astronomical observation activities or the safety planning of the space station in the future, a large amount of artificial space target motion trajectory data is required to ensure the normal development of astronomical observation activities and the safety of space station orbital activities in advance. These needs are just in line with the unique library of small celestial bodies in the origin space and the observation data of artificial targets in space. Scientific research institutions and the government also have corresponding willingness to develop and pay. Origin space can realize the detection and collection of multi-dimensional and large-scale non-public artificial target data, and obtain ultra-high orbital accuracy space artificial target data with 100-meter error, forming a unique barrier to data resources.
In addition, Origin Space also has plans to explore the international market. 36Kr has reported that the major players in the global space resource extraction industry, the speed of progress of origin space is in the international leading state. In January 2022, Origin Space held the first International Space Resources Forum, which was attended by Colorado Mining University, the University of Surrey, the German Space Agency, the French National Center for Scientific Research, the European Space Resources Innovation Center, the Consulate of Luxembourg in Shanghai and a number of commercial space companies. As the world's first commercial company to develop and operate commercial space telescopes in orbit, Origin Space aims to expand data services to the global market, and overseas business teams in Luxembourg and other places are already carrying out related work in an orderly manner.
Since its establishment, Origin Space has completed the on-orbit verification of 5 satellites. In order to meet the needs of the rapid development of origin space, with the strong support of Nanjing Economic Development Zone, Origin Space has built the first phase of spacecraft assembly test base in Nanjing Red Maple Science and Technology Park, with an area of 10,000 square meters, mainly to carry out the development of "looking up at the constellation multi-band space telescope", which is expected to reach the annual production capacity of 10 space telescopes of different lineages.
Origin Space completed a 100 million yuan Pre-A round of financing in 2021, with investors yuanjing capital and shenzhen venture capital, and old shareholders following suit. It is planned to launch a Series A financing in mid-2022, mainly for looking up at the space telescope constellation, the NEO series of space robot projects, and the construction of technical and data teams.
At present, there are about 50 people in the origin space team, mainly technical research and development personnel, hoping to find more multi-field scientific and technological workers with space exploration feelings to join the team. Su Meng, the founder of Origin Space, received her Ph.D. in astrophysics from Harvard University in 2012, and has been an associate professor in the Department of Physics and executive director of the Space Research Laboratory at the University of Hong Kong since 2016.