More recently (May 2021), the company announced a Tianhuo-11 engine, which is similar to the previously-mentioned Tianhuo-3, but with a different fuel (closed-cycle kerolox engine based on an oxygen-rich pre-burner). Space Pioneer’s Tianhuo-3 Engine (Credit: Space Pioneer) Such a technology would be a huge leap, and as such, it is seen as less likely that a company founded so recently would be able to master such technology. Initially, Space Pioneer had planned the development of 3x different rocket engines, namely the Tianhuo-1, Tianhuo-2, and Tianhuo-3 engines, all three planning to be based on an in-house “green” monopropellant technology called HCP. Having raised ~US$100M or so in 30 months, Space Pioneer has been moving quickly in developing rockets, however, some of the company’s claims seem to be bigger than the reality on the ground. What Have They Been Doing With All The Money? The funding rounds have been fast and furious, with multiple funding rounds in both 20, including most recently in September 2021, coming ~6 weeks after the previous funding round. This makes Space Pioneer probably the most well-funded Chinese launch company to not have a website. The funds have come from several blue-chip investors, including Zhejiang University Innovation Fund, Jundu Investment, and multiple city governments. Over the company’s 2.5 years of existence, Space Pioneer has completed 7 funding rounds, of which at least 4 are claimed to be more than RMB 100M. The latter may refer to a request for proposals published by the Chinese crewed spaceflight agency in January 2021 for a low-cost cargo spacecraft for the Chinese Space Station. Similar to Landspace, Space Pioneer is focused on medium and heavy-lift liquid-fueled rockets, while a recent funding round also hinted at plans for a crewed spacecraft (空天往返载人飞船). The company founder, Kang Yonglai, is the former CTO of Landspace, arguably the leading “first generation” launch company.
Space Pioneer was founded in April 2019, making them not yet 3 years old.
Engine test fire taking place at Space Pioneer’s facilities (Credit: Space Pioneer) Pioneer Days of Space Pioneer
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