Deep Blue Aerospace

Deep Blue Aerospace, formally Jiangsu Deep Blue Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd., is a privately owned Chinese aerospace company established in November 2016 by Huo Liang. Based in Nantong, Jiangsu, the company operates in China’s commercial space sector and is focused on reusable launch-vehicle technology, liquid-propellant rocket engines, and associated manufacturing capabilities. The company’s principal vehicle program is Nebula-1, also known in Chinese as Xingyun-1. Nebula-1 is being developed as a medium-class orbital launch vehicle using liquid oxygen and kerosene propellants. Its propulsion architecture is associated with the Leiting-20, or Thunder-20, engine, described as a kerolox engine with approximately 20 tonnes of thrust. The vehicle is intended to combine orbital launch capability with recovery and reuse, reflecting the broader industry movement toward reducing launch costs through reusable hardware. Deep Blue Aerospace has used vertical takeoff and vertical landing testing to advance its reusable-rocket program. In 2021, it completed a vertical takeoff and landing test involving a liquid oxygen–kerosene rocket, an event described in reference material as China’s first such test using this type of liquid-propellant rocket. These tests have positioned the company among the Chinese commercial launch startups pursuing controlled recovery of rocket stages rather than expendable-only launch systems. The company has also developed plans for Nebula-2, a larger liquid oxygen–kerosene vehicle intended for medium- to heavy-lift missions. Earlier plans described a payload capacity of approximately 20,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit, while later plans described a target of approximately 25,000 kilograms. Nebula-2 has been associated with a planned 2026 launch timeframe, although schedules remain subject to development and testing progress. Deep Blue Aerospace has raised private financing to support rocket development. In January 2022, it secured nearly US$31.5 million in funding. In April of the same year, it announced another financing round led by CMBC International Holdings; the amount was not disclosed. The proceeds were intended to support Nebula-1, the Thunder engine family, and production and manufacturing processes. These financing activities reflect the capital-intensive nature of commercial orbital launch development. The company competes with a group of Chinese commercial-space enterprises, including Galactic Energy, LandSpace, i-Space, Space Pioneer, LinkSpace, ExPace, OneSpace, and Orienspace. Its differentiation is centered on reusable liquid-propellant launch vehicles and the development of in-house propulsion and recovery technologies. As of the latest referenced planning information, Nebula-1’s first orbital launch and recovery attempt was expected in the second quarter of 2026, while Nebula-2 was also associated with a 2026 development and launch plan. These are planned milestones rather than completed achievements.

Deep Blue Aerospace was founded in November 2016 by Huo Liang in Jiangsu, an eastern coastal province of China. It emerged as part of China’s growing commercial-space sector, in which privately financed companies began developing launch vehicles, engines, and spaceflight infrastructure alongside the country’s established state-linked aerospace organizations. The company’s central technical objective has been the development of reusable liquid-propellant rockets. Its work combines vehicle design, kerosene and liquid-oxygen propulsion, controlled descent, vertical landing, and the manufacturing systems needed to produce flight hardware. This approach is intended to improve launch economics by allowing rocket stages or other major components to be recovered and flown again. Deep Blue Aerospace’s most prominent program is Nebula-1, or Xingyun-1, a medium-class orbital launch vehicle. The rocket is designed around a kerolox propulsion system using liquid oxygen and kerosene. Its main engine program is the Leiting-20, also called Thunder-20, which is described as producing approximately 20 tonnes of thrust. Nebula-1 has been planned as a reusable system, making recovery demonstrations and vertical takeoff and landing tests important steps in the program’s development. In 2021, Deep Blue Aerospace completed a vertical takeoff and landing test involving a liquid oxygen–kerosene rocket. The test was identified in reference material as China’s first vertical takeoff and landing test of a liquid-propellant rocket of this type. The demonstration helped establish the company as one of the Chinese private launch developers pursuing reusable propulsion and recovery technology. The company’s financing activity became more visible in 2022. In January, it secured nearly US$31.5 million. On 19 April, it announced another financing round led by CMBC International Holdings. Although the size of the second round was not released, Deep Blue Aerospace stated that the proceeds would be directed toward Nebula-1, the Thunder engine family, and manufacturing processes. The funding was part of the company’s effort to move from technology demonstrations toward orbital launch capability and industrial-scale production. Alongside Nebula-1, Deep Blue Aerospace has described Nebula-2 as a larger medium- to heavy-lift liquid-fueled rocket. The vehicle is intended to use liquid oxygen and kerosene and has been associated with payload targets ranging from approximately 20,000 kilograms to 25,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit, depending on the planning version. Nebula-2 has been planned for a 2026 launch timeframe. The schedule for Nebula-1’s first orbital launch and recovery has changed as development planning has progressed. An initial plan referenced a late-2024 attempt. A March 2025 plan moved the expected attempt to mid-2025, while a later update referenced early 2026. The latest supplied planning information places the attempt in the second quarter of 2026. These dates represent targets and do not establish that the mission has occurred. Deep Blue Aerospace operates in a competitive Chinese commercial-launch market. Other companies identified as competitors or peers include Galactic Energy, LandSpace, i-Space, Space Pioneer, LinkSpace, ExPace, OneSpace, and Orienspace. The company’s strategic identity is built around reusable launch vehicles, liquid-propellant engine development, and the eventual provision of commercial orbital launch services. Its long-term progress depends on successful testing, regulatory and range approvals, manufacturing scale-up, and the achievement of reliable orbital flight and recovery.

• 2026

  Planned Nebula-1 orbital launch and recovery attempt

  [1]Deep Blue Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  The latest supplied planning information places Nebula-1’s first orbital launch and recovery attempt in the second quarter of 2026.

• 2022

  First disclosed major financing

  [1]Deep Blue Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  Deep Blue Aerospace secured nearly US$31.5 million in funding in January 2022.

• 2022

  CMBC International financing round

  [1]Deep Blue Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  The company announced a financing round led by CMBC International Holdings to support Nebula-1, Thunder engines, and manufacturing processes.

• 2021

  Vertical takeoff and landing demonstration

  [1]Deep Blue Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  The company completed a vertical takeoff and landing test using a liquid oxygen–kerosene rocket, described as the first Chinese test of this kind involving a liquid-propellant rocket.

• 2016

  Company founded

  [1]Deep Blue Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  Huo Liang founded Deep Blue Aerospace in Jiangsu, China, in November 2016.

Chinese commercial-space launch developer focused on reusable liquid oxygen–kerosene rockets, proprietary propulsion, and lower-cost orbital access.

• Reusable medium-class orbital launch vehicle

  Nebula-1

  Nebula-1, also called Xingyun-1, is Deep Blue Aerospace’s principal medium-class orbital rocket program. It is designed to use liquid oxygen and kerosene and to incorporate reusable-launch technology. The vehicle is associated with the Leiting-20 engine, a kerolox engine rated at approximately 20 tonnes of thrust. The company has planned an orbital launch and recovery attempt, with the latest referenced target set for the second quarter of 2026.

• Medium- to heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle

  Nebula-2

  Nebula-2 is a larger liquid-fueled launch vehicle concept intended for medium- to heavy-lift missions. It is planned to use liquid oxygen and kerosene and has been described with low-Earth-orbit payload targets of approximately 20,000 kilograms in earlier planning and approximately 25,000 kilograms in later planning. A 2026 launch timeframe has been associated with the program, but the vehicle remains under development.

• Kerolox rocket engine

  Leiting-20 (Thunder-20)

  Leiting-20, also referred to as Thunder-20, is a liquid oxygen–kerosene rocket engine associated with the Nebula-1 launch vehicle. Reference material describes it as providing approximately 20 tonnes of thrust. It forms part of Deep Blue Aerospace’s broader effort to develop proprietary propulsion technology for reusable launch systems.

• 2024

  Nebula-1's first high-altitude recovery test has landing anomaly, damaging rocket

  On September 22, 2024, Deep Blue Aerospace's Nebula-1 conducted China's first high-altitude vertical recovery test of an orbital-class rocket. The first stage experienced an anomaly during the final landing shutdown phase, and part of the rocket body was damaged; 10 of 11 tests were completed. The preliminary cause was an anomaly in the servo following control commands for engine thrust adjustment. The company said there was no safety incident. The test was not fully successful.

  Source

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• 2026

  Nebula-1 schedule revised toward a 2026 orbital attemptGeneration change

  Background

  The planned timing of Nebula-1’s first orbital launch and recovery changed across successive development plans.

  Action taken

  The expected attempt moved from late 2024, to mid-2025, to early 2026, and then to the second quarter of 2026 in the latest supplied planning information.

  Aftermath

  The revised schedule indicates that the mission remained a future target rather than a completed launch as of the referenced material.

  Source

• 2022

  Direct financing toward reusable launch capabilityStrategy

  Background

  Deep Blue Aerospace was developing Nebula-1 and its Thunder engine family while working to establish manufacturing capacity for commercial orbital launch vehicles.

  Action taken

  Following financing in January and a further round led by CMBC International Holdings in April, the company directed funding toward Nebula-1, engine development, and manufacturing processes.

  Aftermath

  The financing supported the company’s continued transition from reusable-rocket testing toward orbital launch development. The disclosed sources do not establish the subsequent commercial or technical outcome.

  Funding. Nearly US$31.5 million disclosed in January 2022; the April 2022 round amount was undisclosed (2022)

  Source

1. 1Deep Blue Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Deep Blue Aerospace official websitedeepblueaerospace.com
3. 3Nebula-1's first high-altitude recovery test has landing anomaly, damaging rocketchinaerospace.com
4. 4Nebula-1's first high-altitude recovery test has landing anomaly, damaging rocketjiemian.com
5. 5Nebula-1's first high-altitude recovery test has landing anomaly, damaging rocketm.bjnews.com.cn