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]

On October 13, 2021, Deep Blue 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]

On September 22, 2024, Deep Blue conducted a 10 km VTVL hop test, which featured the first flight of the Thunder-R kerosene-liquid oxygen engines (three of them on this flight). The test ended with a hard landing, completing 10 of the 11 objectives.^[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]

Between July 28 and August 2, 2025, Chinese aerospace fans found evidence that Deep Blue likely conducted the fourth VTVL test for Nebula 1. The second VTVL test article has been sitting at the test pad since January 2025.^[13] From satellite imagery, there is a noticeable sign of an explosion / fire close to the Deep Blue's launch site at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center compared to satellite imagery on July 28.^[14]

Nebula-2

Nebula-2 is a medium to heavy-lift liquid-fueled rocket powered by liquid oxygen and kerosene capable of lifting 20,000 kg of payload into LEO. The rocket was planned to be launched in late 2025.^[15] It's now expected to deliver 25,000 kg of payload to the same orbit and planned for 2026.^[12]

Competition

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