3 minute read•Updated 1:33 AM EDT, Thu April 24, 2025
Chinese startup InfinAstro has secured early funding to enhance China's growing commercial on-orbit servicing capabilities.
Officially named Beijing Infinity Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd., has announced it raised tens of millions of yuan (approximately $3 million to $13 million) in an angel financing round. Unity Ventures led the round, with participation from Beijing-based venture capital firm InnoAngel Fund.
The investment aims to accelerate the development of InfinAstro’s innovative "space bus" series, a type of orbital transfer vehicle (OTV), and foster China’s commercial on-orbit servicing market. Orbital transfer vehicles, essential in last-mile space logistics, deliver satellites to precise orbits following launch vehicle separation, a service experiencing growing global demand.
According to a 2022 report by Euroconsult, approximately 120 OTVs are anticipated to be operational globally by 2031.
InfinAstro's "Space Bus" vehicles seek to fill a notable gap in China's commercial space industry by enabling efficient multi-satellite deployment into diverse orbital paths. The company claims that its advanced technology can slash deployment costs by up to 66 percent and significantly reduce orbital insertion time by roughly 85 percent compared to existing methods.
Targeting operational altitudes ranging from 200 to 36,000 kilometers, InfinAstro plans intelligent satellite constellation deployment and comprehensive multi-satellite rideshare missions. These services are designed to provide economical, accurate, and rapid satellite deployment capabilities.
"With this financing, we will expedite the development and production of our first Space Bus Type I vehicle. Our orbital transfer technology addresses current gaps in China’s space transportation sector and will significantly contribute to the closed-loop ecosystem of the space economy." - Li Jian, InfinAstro Founder and CEO
On April 1, InfinAstro successfully conducted a ground hot fire test of its first-generation Space Bus IH-1 spacecraft's propulsion system. However, the company has not yet publicly detailed its timeline for upcoming orbital tests or flights.
InfinAstro has broader ambitions beyond orbital logistics, eyeing future ventures such as satellite life extension, spacecraft reentry solutions, and payload transportation missions to geostationary orbit, the Moon, and even Mars. InfinAstro’s core team boasts significant expertise, primarily drawn from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), China’s major state-owned aerospace contractor.
The establishment of InfinAstro; mirrors a global movement toward in-space logistics and satellite servicing, paralleling U.S. companies such as Momentus and Impulse Space, founded by SpaceX veteran Tom Mueller; as well as international providers like D-Orbit and Exolaunch.
Within China, InfinAstro's emergence signals the diversification of commercial space activities, complementing recent initiatives in low-cost cargo spacecraft, orbital tourism, and innovative satellite constellations.
This funding aligns with broader national strategies to promote China's commercial space sector as a cornerstone for high-tech economic growth. Central governmental support has spurred provincial and municipal governments nationwide to develop detailed action plans aimed at attracting and nurturing innovative space enterprises like InfinAstro.
