Guoyao Tech, a Guangzhou-based startup, has recently revealed a roadmap for the 10-kg satellite prototype launch by 2022. In addition, the company has announced the launch of the short-range tonnage by using electromagnetic power by 2023. It has been developing an innovative system based on this technology to launch humans and satellites into space.

Founded in 2017, Guoyao became widely known following the acquisition of seed funding in 2018, after which it completed an electromagnetic launcher prototype and secured funding worth $1.5 million in a Series A funding round in 2019.

As per the statement made by the spokesperson and CTO of Guoyao, Dr. Yadong Zhang, the electromagnetic launching tech has great potential in the aerospace industry. In addition, the technology can be adopted in myriad civil rescue or field exploration procedures. Dr. Zhang further added that the team at Guoyao, who are experts in electromagnetic technology and can rapidly commence the technology validation phase, has unveiled the 1^st electromagnetic thrower for commercial use in the beginning of 2020. In China, the rescue equipment has gained 20 innovation patents.

The startup is attempting to reduce the cost of the manned, LEO (low Earth orbit) satellite per launch to $2.6 million by 2025. This will be the only system based on the electromagnetic force with the potential to launch humans into orbit, in place of the traditional chemical rockets. A few advantages of substituting chemical rocket with electromagnetic power for launching satellite include:

• Flexible operation, enabling the launch of multiple payloads in a day into LEO. This can help meet the launching demand of military and commercial satellites in the future.
• Low storage management risk and no environmental damage associated with this electromagnetic launch.
• The replacement of the 1^st rocket propulsion test as this form of satellite launch can be done without staged propulsion and directly send the satellite into the near-Earth orbit.
• Low costs as compared to conventional chemical rockets. It helps in reducing the launch cost to $600 per kg of payloads.

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https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinese-startup-wants-to-replace-chemical-rocket-with-electromagnetic-power-to-launch-satellites-301134388.html