Deep Blue Aerospace

Jiangsu Deep Blue Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd. (Chinese: 深蓝航天; lit. 'Deep Blue Aerospace') is a private space launch enterprise founded in November 2016 by Huo Liang.^[1] The company is located in Jiangsu province on the East coast of China. It is engaged in the development of reusable rockets.^[2]

Jiangsu Deep Blue Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd.

Founded	2016
Founder	Huo Liang
Website	http://www.dbaspace.com/about.html

Nebula-1

The company is developing the medium-class orbital launch vehicle “Nebula-1.” The rocket will use the 20-ton-thrust kerolox engine named Leiting-20.^[1][3]

In October 2021, the company completed a 100-meter level launch and landing test with its Nebula M1 VTVL test stage.^[4]

In January 2022, the company secured nearly $31.5 million in funding.^[5][6][7] On April 19, the company announced a new round of funding led by CMBC International Holdings, which will be put towards developing the Nebula-1, the "Thunder" engine series, and other manufacturing processes.^[8][9] The amount raised was not disclosed.^[8]

On May 6, 2022, the Nebula M1 completed a one kilometer test, that included a vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) above Tongchuan, Shaanxi Providence.^[1]

In Sept 2024, A hop test, which was the first flight test of the Thunder-R kerosene-liquid oxygen engines, had a hard landing.^[10]

In 2022, the first orbital launch and recovery of the Nebula-1 was planned for late 2024.^[1][11] It's now planned for mid-2025.^[12]

Nebula-2

Nebula-2 is a medium to heavy-lift liquid-fuelled rocket powered by liquid oxygen and kerosene capable of lifting 20,000 kg of payload into LEO. The rocket is planned to be launched in late 2025.^[13]

Competition

Deep Blue Aerospace is in competition with several other Chinese rocket launcher startups including Galactic Energy, LandSpace, LinkSpace, ExPace, i-Space, OneSpace, Orienspace.