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Commercial Aerospace: The Next Launchpad for the Chinese Economy

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BEIJING, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — By China Report ASEAN

On December 29, 2023, the first launch service tower was completed at the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center, marking a key step forward in building the launch capacity of China’s first commercial aerospace launch site. On December 10, a Hyperbola-2 methane-liquid oxygen reusable verification rocket was launched successfully, marking the first recovery of reusable carrier rockets in China.

Continuous implementation of relevant policies has steered China’s commercial space industry into a fast lane of development. Many industry insiders believe that China’s space industry has already reached the first stage of commercialization in many areas. However, challenges coexist alongside achievements, which calls for breakthroughs.

Initial Concentration of the Space Industry

Commercial space activities are non-governmental profit-seeking activities featuring allocation of technology, capital, talent and other resources according to market rules. The realm is an important force for the innovation and development of China’s space industry. Private enterprises account for about 92 percent of China’s commercial space companies.

On November 26, 2014, the State Council released guidelines on social investment in the commercial space industry, which stated that “private capital is encouraged to participate in the construction of national civil space infrastructure, and companies with the intention to join the space industry are allowed to make massive private investment.” Since then, China’s commercial space industry has developed for nearly 10 years.

In recent years, even more preferential policies have been released to drive the commercial space industry. According to incomplete statistics, more than 10 relevant policies have been issued since 2014. With that encouragement and support, the once relatively obscure space industry has gradually opened up. Furthermore, the boom of foreign commercial space companies led by SpaceX has resulted in a market demonstration effect for Chinese commercial space companies including Galactic Energy, LandSpace, iSpace, and Guodian Gaoke.

To seize the important opportunities brought by commercial space development, several Chinese cities such as Beijing, Xi’an, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Wuhan, and Ningbo have successively formulated relevant action plans or support policies to promote the development of the commercial space industry, accelerate the layout of the entire space industrial chain, and make breakthroughs in key and core technologies. Commercial space industrial parks have sprung up, shaping the concentration of the space industry.

Policy support and guidance has helped the growth of the industry. According to a report released by the Institute of Future Astronautics (FutureAerospace), the number of commercial space enterprises registered and effectively operating in China had reached 433 as of late 2022, with 43 commercial satellite constellation programs already implemented in areas such as commercial communications, remote sensing, navigation, and technology verification.

At the same time, China’s commercial space industry has made new breakthroughs in technological innovation. For example, the launch of Zhuque-1 marked the first attempt made by a Chinese private space company to send a carrier rocket into space, and Zhuque-2 became the world’s first liquid oxygen methane rocket successfully launched into orbit. With the successful launch of the Hyperbola-1 carrier rocket, iSpace became the world’s third and China’s first private company to launch a rocket into orbit. 

According to data from Ai Media Consulting, from 2015 to 2021, China’s commercial space industry maintained an average growth rate of 22.3 percent and is expected to grow to more than 2.3 trillion yuan (about US$320 billion) in 2024. Research firm Taibo Intelligence forecast the overall scale of China’s domestic commercial space market to reach 2.8 trillion yuan (about US$389 billion) by 2025.

Promoting Coordinated Development of Derivative Industries

Divided according to the industrial chain, the upstream commercial space industry includes rocket manufacturing, satellite manufacturing, and related supporting equipment. The industry’s midstream involves satellite launching and ground equipment manufacturing. Downstream is defined as terminal application and the service market. Traditional application scenarios include communication, navigation, and remote sensing, while emerging application scenarios include satellite internet, space travel, space mining, and deep space exploration.

“The industrial chain of China’s commercial space industry has already taken shape,” commented Gu Xingfa, an academician with the International Academy of Astronautics and the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and president of the Chinese National Committee for Remote Sensing. “Driven by demand, policy, and technology, the development of the industry has indeed entered a critical stage.”

Research from Sealand Securities, a wealth management platform, has divided the commercial space industrial chain into an upstream of satellite research and development, midstream of rocket launch services and ground equipment manufacturing, and downstream of satellite applications and services. So far, several private enterprises have been cultivated within each link of the industrial chain and have interacted with state-owned enterprises to form a preliminary industrial ecology, which is improving gradually.

In terms of commercial value, data from Ai Media Consulting showed that by the end of 2021, ground equipment manufacturing and satellite application and operation occupied the highest proportion of the market size among all links of the commercial space industry with each contributing 45 percent of revenues. They are the links of the commercial space industry that became profitable first. Meanwhile, satellite manufacturing and launch services in the upstream of the industrial chain remain at the preliminary stage, with both contributing about 10 percent of revenues.

Thus, the capital market is also gradually clarifying the direction of the commercial space industrial chain for the future. When a commercial rocket is launched today, satellite manufacturing and the rocket launch industry represent only 10 percent of the value across the entire space industrial chain, indicating that tremendous space remains for exploration with regard to the key parts and components for rockets and satellites.

“Without good products in the supply chain, there would be no good system integration products,” said Yang Yiqiang, chairman and president of CAS Space. He also identified rockets and satellites as still the hotspots for investment in China’s commercial space industry. However, many rocket and satellite companies have already emerged, and some have assumed leadership positions within the sector. The continued influx of capital will probably cause internal friction between those companies. Therefore, investors might want to focus more on the upstream of the industrial chain (e.g. engines, components) as well as on satellite applications in the downstream (e.g. navigation, remote sensing).

A space industrial chain consists of many links. From R&D and launch in the upstream to operation and application in the downstream, almost every link can create a market with an annual output of 100 billion yuan (US$14 billion). Zhang Shijie, chief scientist at Galaxy Space, noted that new commercial space companies have played a lead role in key links of the commercial space industrial chain thanks to their expertise and established an effective business operation model, which has contributed to the large-scale development of the commercial space industry.

Chen Xiaohong, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, once proclaimed that data is one of the core elements of the modern industrial system, the power source for the new engine of the digital economy, and the frontier of global digital competition. The commercial space industry, one of the main advancement trends of the technology industry in the era of the digital economy, can help the digital economy break through geographical restrictions, promote in-depth development of the industrial internet for people from all walks of life, and accelerate the digitization of the industry. Especially in the areas of satellite information and space technology, satellite data can enrich application scenarios and innovate business models, which will effectively empower the digital transformation of society and the development of the digital economy while facilitating construction of digital governments.

Financing Difficulties and Cost Obstacles

Although broad prospects for the development and application of the commercial space industry have emerged, many difficulties remain hindering business model maturation and large-scale development. Although the commercial model conceived by SpaceX is feasible, in essence, it does not change the industry’s characteristics of “hardcore technology,” namely, high costs, high risks, and long cycles.

“The commercial space industry is essentially space activities for profit,” opined Ji Haibo, deputy general manager of iSpace and chief designer of its liquid-propellant rockets. “It took SpaceX more than 20 years to make a profit. Such a long development cycle is facilitated by the patience and persistence of the company and capital.” He considers it necessary to tackle numerous bottlenecks restraining China’s private commercial space industry to make it a market-oriented prosperous industry with considerable dividends.

But from the perspective of economic scale and overall corporate valuation, China’s commercial space industry is still relatively small, with very few companies making any profits with rockets and satellites. 

“The biggest obstacle hindering the development of the commercial space industry is the high launch cost,” commented Ji. The same goes for all launch vehicles. The cost of rockets must come down to cut the cost of launching satellites into the sky, which will reduce costs for satellite operators. The reduced cost will in turn accelerate satellite networking, providing consumers access to satellite internet at a higher speed with a lower cost. Such a development would make the commercial logic of the commercial space industry complete and functional. For everyone involved in the industry, the only path to the maximum input-output ratio is realization of reusable carriers, including rockets.

Ji also noted that the focus of competition in China’s private commercial space industry has shifted from launching rockets into the sky to reducing the cost of launches and ensuring sufficient capacity and flight reliability. In essence, it has entered a stage of competition in services.

Liu Baiqi, founder and CEO of Galactic Energy, discussed the factors restraining the development of China’s private space industry in an interview. “The main factors are financing difficulties and limited infrastructure resources,” he said. “The rapid flow of human resources and kinks in the supply chain are also major restraints.”

Most space talent is still concentrated in state-owned enterprises, and several founders of private commercial space companies left a position at a state-owned enterprise. Without stable human resources, private commercial space companies face problems such as insufficient innovative R&D capabilities.

“Policy has never been the key factor affecting the development of the industry,” commented Niu Min, founder of FutureAerospace. “The current shortfall is capital investment.” Seeking to identify the essence of the business, Niu sees satellites as a core value of the commercial space industry. The economic value it creates must be profitable enough to cover the costs, he explained, and only when costs are covered will the loop of the business model close. However, the loop is still wide open for more Chinese private commercial space companies. 

Activating a Trillion-Yuan Market

As a new business form within the space industry, commercial space activities feature rapid upgrading, high economic returns, and strong industrial synergy. They represent an extremely important new growth pole for the Chinese economy as well as important support for China to evolve from “a major player” to “a major power” in the space industry.

According to a prediction by Taibo Intelligence, China’s commercial space sector will be in a golden era of development from 2023 to 2028 with an estimated market scale of 2.8 trillion yuan (US$389 billion) in 2025. Furthermore, the continuous integration of communication, navigation, and remote sensing, coupled with increasing demand for industry applications, should ensure continued expansion of application scenarios.

“China’s private commercial space sector will continue to grow,” said Niu Min. “After nearly 10 years of development, the Matthew effect (rich getting richer and poor getting poorer) has happened in the industry, which has basically determined a competition pattern of more capital invested in leading companies. However, industry is developing in the direction of maturity. This realm is expected to grow rapidly in 2024. By 2027, China will embrace the era of a space economy at a larger scale.”

In Niu’s view, China will enter the new era when three things happen: First, satellite constellations are built on a large scale, carrier rockets launched with high intensity, and low-cost large-scale liquid-propellant rockets recovered and reused. Second, more than 100 billion yuan (US$14 billion) is invested in the commercial space industry. Third, the next-generation space economy would emerge.

“The commercial space industry has bright prospects,” concluded Liu Baiqi. “The continuous progress of technology and increasing market demand will likely push the industry to grow rapidly in the next few years.”

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SOURCE China Report ASEAN

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Nearly 50% of Young People Resolve to Quit Nicotine in 2025

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EX Program by Truth Initiative Offers a Proven Path to Success

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Almost half (48%) of young people aged 18-24 are making quitting nicotine a priority for their 2025 New Year’s resolutions, according to new data from Truth Initiative® – the nation’s largest nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empowering quitting for all.

 

This survey data* highlights a growing desire to break free from nicotine addiction and the urgent need for effective resources for 18- to 24-year-olds, among whom e-cigarette use is prevalent and dual use of cigarettes is a growing concern. For many, the journey to quit can feel daunting, especially for the scores of young people who think quitting means going “cold turkey” without a network of support. To meet this need, Truth Initiative is offering resources to help their resolutions stick and has launched Outsmart Nicotine, a new campaign designed to introduce young people to EX® Program, a comprehensive quitting resource developed in partnership with Mayo Clinic in 2008.

Empowering Young People with Tools and Encouragement Through EX Program

EX Program is a free cessation resource tailored to meet the unique challenges faced by young people. It offers proven, evidence-based tools designed to support quitting through personalized quit plans, interactive text messages, and 24/7 access to the nation’s most established online quit community. A randomized clinical trial among young adults published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that EX Program text message support can increase the odds of quitting by up to 40%, making EX Program one of the most effective resources for tackling nicotine addiction. These tools have helped millions quit nicotine over nearly two decades, solidifying EX Program as one of the most effective cessation resources available.

Redefining Quitter’s Day: Introducing “You Got This Day” as Part of the Outsmart Nicotine Campaign

Through the Outsmart Nicotine campaign, Truth Initiative is driving awareness of these tools with a series of ads that celebrate the small, everyday victories that lead to quitting nicotine for good. The campaign’s launch ad, “You Got This,” creates an uplifting tone with the iconic track “Can I Kick It?” by A Tribe Called Quest to inspire young people to take that first step toward a nicotine-free life.

“Quitting nicotine is hard, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely or impossible journey,” said Kathy Crosby, CEO and President of Truth Initiative. “With Outsmart Nicotine and the proven-effective EX Program, we’re showing young people that freedom from addiction is possible and within reach– and giving them the tools to quit smarter, not harder.”

Traditionally known as Quitter’s Day, the second Friday in January – January 10th in 2025 – marks the time of year when many people abandon their new year’s resolutions. Giving it a fresh perspective, Truth Initiative is renaming it “You Got This Day” to motivate young people to push through challenges and keep working toward their quit goals. The campaign reframes this day as a moment of empowerment, reminding young adults that quitting is difficult, but with the right support, it’s possible.

Take the First Step Toward Quitting

Truth Initiative invites young people to take the first step toward quitting by texting EXPROGRAM to 88709 or visiting exprogram.com. Organizations interested in EX Program’s enterprise solution can learn more at exprogram.com/enterprise.

*According to Truth Initiative Continuous Tracking Online (CTO) survey data collected October 17, 2024December 17, 2024, from 662 respondents.

About Truth Initiative
Truth Initiative® is a national nonprofit public health organization committed to a future free from lifelong addiction, fostering healthier lives and a more resilient nation. Our mission is to prevent youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empower quitting for all. Through our evidence-based, market-leading cessation EX® Program and national public education and prevention campaigns, we are leading the fight against youth and young adult tobacco use, which threatens to put a new generation at risk of lifetime nicotine addiction. Our rigorous scientific research and policy studies, community and youth engagement programs supporting populations at high risk of using tobacco, and innovation in tobacco dependence treatment continue to contribute to ending one of the most critical public health battles of our time. Based in Washington, D.C., our organization was established and funded through the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between attorneys general from 46 states, five U.S. territories, and the tobacco industry. To learn more, visit truthinitiative.org.

About EX Program
EX® Program is a proven-effective tobacco cessation program, developed by Truth Initiative® with Mayo Clinic, that brings together the best evidence-based quitting approaches, interactive digital quitting programs, and the most established online quit community. EX Program has helped millions of youth and adults develop the skills and confidence to successfully quit. Truth Initiative research has shown that EX Program text messages can increase a user’s odds of quitting by up to 40%. To learn more, visit exprogram.com.

About EX Program Enterprise
Developed by Truth Initiative® with Mayo Clinic, EX® Program Enterprise is the best strategic partner for employers, health plans, and public health organizations to end smoking, vaping, and nicotine use. Sponsored users receive multimodal quitting support, available in both English and Spanish. Clients get real-time dashboards to track performance, year-round promotions, and expert client success guidance. To learn more about available options visit exprogram.com/enterprise.

 

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SOURCE Truth Initiative

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Foxconn Announces Strategic Partnership With Zettabyte to Transform AI Data Centers

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TAIPEI, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Zettabyte, a global leader in AI data center software and infrastructure solutions, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), the world’s largest electronics manufacturer. This collaboration, underpinned by capital funding, aims to drive innovation and expand the adoption of energy-efficient AI solutions worldwide.

At the forefront of Zettabyte’s offerings is Zware, its advanced AI data center management software. Zware optimizes GPU performance, dramatically lowering energy usage while maximizing computing output. This cutting-edge solution empowers businesses to achieve unparalleled efficiency and sustainability in AI computing.

“We are thrilled to partner with Foxconn, a company renowned for its excellence in manufacturing and innovation,” said Kenneth Tai, Chairman of Zettabyte. “This partnership will accelerate the deployment of our technology, meeting the surging demand for high-performance, energy-efficient AI computing globally.”

Partnering with Zettabyte aligns with Foxconn’s commitment to advancing sustainable technologies. According to Foxconn, Zware’s ability to enhance AI data center operations while significantly reducing energy consumption opens opportunities to set new benchmarks for the future of AI data centers.

This collaboration underscores Zettabyte’s leadership in revolutionizing AI infrastructure and its dedication to providing transformative technologies to enterprises worldwide.

About Zettabyte

ZETTABYTE is a global innovator in AI data center technology, delivering solutions that redefine efficiency and sustainability in AI data centers. Its flagship software, Zware, is setting a new standard for sustainable and efficient AI computing.

About Foxconn

Established in 1974 in Taiwan, Hon Hai Technology Group (“Foxconn”) (TWSE: 2317) is the world’s largest electronics manufacturer and leading technological solutions provider, ranking 32nd among the Fortune Global 500. In 2023, revenue totaled TWD6.162 trillion (approx. US$198 billion or EUR183 billion)

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SOURCE Zettabyte

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Karma Automotive Collaborates with the Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance (COVESA), UC Riverside and ROADMEDIC.AI to Develop and Pilot Software and Standards for Next-Generation 9-1-1 Emergency Response Vehicle Communications

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At CES2025, a new vision is shared for standardizing the method that enables Software Defined Vehicles to more rapidly and robustly dispatch 9-1-1 Emergency Response Services to vehicle collisions 

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Karma Automotive, America’s only full-line ultra-luxury vehicle manufacturer, is passionate about enabling the proliferation of open standards in Software Defined Vehicle Architecture (SDVA) to increase industry collaboration, and to speed development as the expanded role of software redefines the driving experience aboard modern vehicles. With vehicle occupant safety as a preeminent focus in all vehicle development, Karma Automotive is collaborating with the Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance (COVESA), the University of California Riverside and ROADMEDIC.AI to develop standards-based software applications which leverage vehicle connectivity to provide robust and real-time insights to 9-1-1 first responders and the related eco-system.   

Developing technology that gets emergency responders to the scene faster to save lives

According to a paper published by the National Institute of Health (NIH), for every 1-minute increase in EMS response time, fatality odds increase by 2.6%. The goal of the effort is to drastically reduce emergency response times, and materially increase preparedness of responders when arriving at the site of a critical incident. Then, to validate software applications and communication protocols that have been validated in real-world applications that can be shared and easily deployed by the broader automotive industry.

To announce this project, Karma Automotive will join the COVESA Networking Reception and Demonstration at CES2025 on January 7 at 5pm at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, NV and showcase the ultra-exclusive, high-performance 2025 Karma Invictus. Karma Invictus is underpinned by the Karma Cloud Services platform that serves as the backbone for the development of the proposed safety system.

Enabling the detailed transmission of vital vehicle and occupant data in real-time could help responders increase preparedness to triage an incident, as contemporary automobiles carry tremendous amounts of data. Leveraging connectivity systems, a vehicle can directly identify number and location of occupants, severity of impact, location of the incident, vehicle extrication instructions and even driver biometrics. Software can be used to organize, parse, and transmit this data in real-time to parties based on their specific role in the 9-1-1 response eco-system.  When combined with vehicle-embedded and cloud-based AI, this data can be sorted and delivered independently, yet simultaneously to the diverse network of service providers that engage in incident response activities. Collectively, this effort is referred to as the ‘9-1-1 Dispatcher Visibility Demonstration Project’.

“Much of what we deliver to our customers in software should not be looked at as differentiating, but rather essential,” says Marques McCammon, President, Karma Automotive. “Safety for example is important to all industry players, and if we could standardize our approach to innovation in the space, we can not only improve the well-being of drivers universally, but also reduce development cost, and time getting new tech technologies to market. This philosophy is central to the Karma Automotive brand promise and our positioning as America’s only ultra-luxury automotive brand.”  

“Together with our partners, we look to democratize development and share the learnings to the benefit of the broader industry and the community at large,” continues McCammon, “and with upcoming Karma vehicles, this technology will be seamlessly integrated within our Karma Connect Vehicle Data Management and connectivity services platform.”

“This collaboration is the realization of a 25-year journey,” said Lawrence E. Williams, CEO and Founder of ROADMEDIC.AI. “Many times, it seemed like a pipe dream, but today, thanks to Karma Automotive’s shared vision, we are turning that dream into reality. Together, we are poised to revolutionize 9-1-1 emergency response systems and save countless lives.”

Next Generation 9-1-1 Technology: A Game Changer
Karma Automotive is the first OEM automotive partner to COVESA’s ‘9-1-1 Dispatcher Visibility Demonstration Project’. Working in collaboration with the University of California Riverside, the automaker will utilize 3rd Generation Karma Revero sport sedans to pilot the technology application and its related use cases. The results of this effort will then be shared with the greater COVESA community, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), and other community members and stakeholders.

Existing 9-1-1 emergency response systems rely heavily on caller-based information, often supplemented by telematics systems transmitting data to manufacturer call centers. These systems, while useful, introduce delays and inconsistencies that can hinder timely emergency responses. By contrast, the Next Generation 9-1-1 Technology spearheaded by Karma Automotive and its partners will enable vehicles to instantly transmit vital, multi-layered crash data directly to 9-1-1 Emergency Communication Centers, bypassing intermediaries and saving precious seconds in emergency scenarios.

About Karma Automotive

Karma Automotive is America’s only full-line ultra-luxury vehicle manufacturer, and a pioneer of EREV (Extended Range Electric) vehicles which it manufactures at its Karma Innovation and Customization Center (KICC) in Moreno Valley, CA. Its Executive, Product Development, and Design headquarters are located in nearby Irvine, CA. The Karma portfolio embodies California’s spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial boldness, reflected by the signature Comet Line which is the central hallmark of Karma’s new design language. Sales of the 3rd Generation Karma Revero sport sedan, the world’s first luxury EREV plug-in hybrid, are now underway in the USA and EU, offering luxury balanced with conscientiousness delivered without compromise. Sales of Revero’s ultra-exclusive, performance-tuned stablemate, Karma Invictus, will begin in Q1 2025, followed by the Gyesera four-seater in Q4 2025.  The Karma Kaveya super-coupe, with up to 1,000HP and butterfly-doors, will arrive in Q4 2026, incorporating SDVA (Software-Defined Vehicle Architecture) developed in collaboration with Intel Automotive. Further, Karma Automotive will provide Tier 1’s and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) with business-to-business SDVA solutions, as it does today with Karma Connect, its proprietary Vehicle Data Management and Over-the-Air services platform, which presently provides services to the world’s second largest OEM. Karma Automotive’s dealer network spans North America, Europe, South America and the Middle East. (www.karmaautomotive.com) 

About ROADMEDIC.AI

ROADMEDIC.AI is an authorized automotive OEM Tier 1 supplier dedicated to improving 9-1-1 emergency response through instantaneous IP-based data transmission from motor vehicles to 9-1-1 centers. Their innovative solutions save lives and reduce harm in crash events. For more information, visit www.roadmedic.com.

About COVESA

The Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance (COVESA) is an open, member-driven global technology alliance accelerating the full potential of connected vehicles. By developing common approaches and technologies, COVESA provides a collaborative platform that empowers automotive software stakeholders and world-class developers to address challenges and opportunities in connected mobility and navigate the digital transformation of the automotive industry. Learn more about COVESA or join our community at www.covesa.global.

Media Contact:                                                                                                                                                           

Joe Richardson, (917) 716-6617                                                                              
Joe@BeautifulNoisePR.com 

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SOURCE Karma Automotive

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