The blueprint for the nation's upcoming development phase underscores the importance of accelerating growth in strategic emerging sectors like aerospace. In line with this vision, Shandong Province is steadfastly pursuing its goal to become a major aerospace powerhouse, tackling industry-wide bottlenecks to forge a robust commercial space hub characterized by maritime launch leadership, coordinated satellite and rocket manufacturing, and expanded space-based applications.
At the core of this initiative is the Dongfang Aerospace Port in Yantai, which stands as China's exclusive commercial maritime launch homeport and has been operational since May 2020. During a recent visit, it was revealed that for an extended period, the port grappled with a disconnect between the development of its rocket and satellite industries, frequently resulting in satellites waiting on rockets and vice versa, which hampered the efficiency and profitability of space missions.
Today, the aerospace port hosts a diverse mix of enterprises, ranging from central and state-owned giants to private firms, all contributing to a complete chain that spans research and development, manufacturing, launch services, and satellite data application. To address the critical pain points in the commercial space sector this year, Shandong has established a provincial-level coordination task force. This team is rolling out targeted support measures that address capital needs, talent acquisition, and industrial chain integration, all designed to cultivate a professionally managed and market-oriented industrial ecosystem that accelerates the formation of a maritime aerospace cluster.
The Dongfang Aerospace Port has now achieved full localization of satellite production, rocket assembly, maritime launches, and data services, housing over 40 enterprises and driving a cumulative investment of 38.5 billion yuan. Recently, the port marked a significant milestone by launching the Jielong-3 carrier rocket, which successfully deployed the Dongfang Huiyan hyperspectral 01 and 02 satellites equipped with high-performance AI inference and computing capabilities. This mission completed the in-orbit verification of China's space computing technology and achieved the first fully closed-loop industrial chain for a rocket, satellite, and vessel combination at the port.
Looking to sustain high-quality development in the commercial space industry, Shandong has initiated a series of industry docking conferences and similar events this year. To date, agreements have been signed covering a range of projects, including the integration of satellite and rocket industries and financial support for commercial space growth, with total contract values reaching 63.5 billion yuan. The province has set its sights on ambitious targets for 2027, aiming to have the capacity to produce 100 launch vehicles and 150 commercial satellites annually, with the commercial space sector reaching a scale of 50 billion yuan.