The nation is soliciting low-cost space cargo‑transportation proposals—space logistics has arrived…

Recently, the China Manned Space Engineering Office issued a notice… Announcement on the Solicitation of Overall Proposals for a Low-Cost Cargo Transportation System for the Space Station , soliciting contributions from the entire society Low-Cost Freight Transportation Solutions 。

The announcement stated that, based on the results of the solicitation process, the China Manned Space Engineering Office will select and prioritize projects to develop and conduct flight tests of a low-cost cargo transportation system, procure low-cost cargo transportation services through market-based mechanisms, and ultimately… Establish a safe, reliable, diversified, and highly efficient space station–ground cargo transportation system. 。

Through this notice, industry professionals have recognized the vast potential for growth in space logistics, particularly as humanity’s exploration of space accelerates. How is cargo transported in space? How is cargo moved between Earth and space? These two issues are increasingly being brought to the forefront.

At present, China’s space station primarily relies on the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft to provide resupply services between Earth and space, and this year… In May, the Long March-7 Y7 carrier rocket successfully launched the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft, marking the first mission of the China Space Station’s application and development phase.

Some have pointed out that the Tianzhou‑6 cargo spacecraft differs from previous Tianzhou series missions in that its usable payload volume has been increased. By 20%, the overall payload capacity has increased from the previous 6.9 tons to 7.4 tons, allowing cargo‑ship launch requirements to be optimized from twice per year to three times every two years, thereby reducing transportation costs. Moreover, this public call for low‑cost transport solutions can be seen as a further extension and expansion of the original intent behind the upgrades and refinements made to Tianzhou‑6. Transitioning to market-oriented operations will be highly beneficial to the development of China’s commercial aviation sector.

As China’s commercial aviation sector accelerates and the global community intensifies its exploration of outer space, Could space logistics become the next big trend in the logistics sector? And what opportunities will it bring to the industry?

Will space logistics become the next big trend?

The 21st century has ushered in a new space race, further catalyzing the space economy. According to a Morgan Stanley report, the global space economy is projected to reach a value of one trillion U.S. dollars by 2040. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs defines the space economy as “the full range of activities that generate value and benefits for humanity through the exploration, research, understanding, management, and utilization of outer space.”

The growth of the space economy has been driven primarily by a substantial increase in global venture capital investment. In summary, when categorized by technology, investments in the space sector fall into three main types: Application areas: Navigation and positioning-related services account for only a small share of the investment. 80%; Infrastructure: Software and hardware for the construction, launch, and operation of space assets; Distribution sector: Software and hardware for connecting, processing, and managing space asset data.

In the new infrastructure sector, beyond the launch and satellite industries, logistics ranked second only to space stations in terms of cumulative investment during the first quarter of this year, with total investments reaching 1.1 billion U.S. dollars, but it is worth noting that, Since Since 2014, in the realm of new infrastructure, space logistics has consistently been the most active sector in terms of investment deal value.

Source: Space Capital (2023 Q1)

Among them, as they vie to lead the frontier of the space economy, China and the United States stand out as the two major global forces driving investment in the space sector. According to… According to Space Capital data, from 2013 to 2022, the United States invested US$126 billion, accounting for 46% of global total investment, while China invested US$79 billion, representing 29%. This means that… China and the United States are also highly likely to lead the development of the space logistics sector. 。

Source: Space Capital

As governments around the world announce plans and tender contracts for lunar and Martian exploration and settlement over the next decade, and as non-governmental organizations embark on deploying large satellite constellations and unveil space‑hotel initiatives, this period will also give rise to opportunities in the space logistics sector—where reusable components, innovative rocket designs, and alternative launch technologies will drive down costs. 95% of launch costs, opening up new business opportunities for space activities, The space logistics industry is also regarded as a market with enormous potential.

In the past two years In the DHL logistics development trend radar chart, Space logistics and the space economy are also regarded as the future. New trends expected to mature within 5–10 years, As the space economy expands into a larger market, it may shift the positioning of space logistics on the logistics‑trends radar, with greater emphasis in both influence and execution going forward. Consequently, the transportation of space‑related products through logistics supply chains will become increasingly commonplace. According to Citibank’s forecast, In In the space economy of 2040, space logistics is expected to account for more than 20% of total revenue.

What opportunities can the space economy bring to the logistics industry?

Through the above, The space economy and space logistics are highly likely to become the future. What new trends and emerging opportunities over the next 5 to 10 years will bring along logistics‑related prospects?

First and foremost, the most obvious factor is the supply of goods. As humanity’s exploration of space becomes increasingly frequent—such as the construction of space stations—it is essential to transport ever more supplies (equipment, materials, fuel, and other provisions) into orbit, while also considering the return of discarded waste to Earth. In this process, logistics providers must plan and manage transportation routes; currently, there are over one hundred million pieces… Fragments smaller than 1 centimeter, along with over a million fragments larger than 1 centimeter, orbit the Earth at high speeds. To mitigate the risks posed by these space debris, it is essential to consider packaging materials and methods for transport and storage that can withstand extreme temperatures, high radiation, pressure, and zero gravity.

While ensuring the safe and reliable operation of cargo, it is also necessary to consider how to minimize logistics costs, particularly given the current size and weight constraints of launch vehicles, which may make economies of scale difficult to achieve. As noted in the announcement at the outset of this paper, China has already begun soliciting concrete proposals to reduce logistics and transportation expenses. In terms of controlling transport costs, some have suggested developing fully reusable rocket engine systems, or designing larger spacecraft and alternative launch mechanisms. Of course, it remains possible that, in the future, humans will manufacture goods in space, establish distribution networks, and thereby cut inter‑space transportation costs—potentially even shipping finished products back to Earth.

Next is satellite logistics, That is, launching satellites into space—everyone has probably heard of Elon Musk’s Starlink project. Musk plans to launch… With 42,000 satellites, Starlink aims to provide global coverage. By 2022, more than 3,000 Starlink satellites had already been deployed in space, a process that inevitably requires logistics and transportation services. As countries vie for access to space resources and build satellite constellations—indeed, even from the perspective of military‑strategic competition—the next decade is expected to see tens of thousands of low Earth orbit satellites requiring logistical support to reach their designated orbits.

Currently, the Italian space logistics and transportation company D-Orbit offers a tailored solution: rapidly transporting and deploying transport satellites to the appropriate orbit and position above Earth, ensuring “last‑mile” delivery. In the face of severe space weather and an ever‑growing debris population, logistics providers must also offer services such as close‑range damage assessment, on‑demand repair and replacement, and even safe deorbiting. Moreover, satellites require propellant to execute launches, reach their intended orbits, perform trajectory corrections, and more. To extend satellite lifetimes and adhere to increasingly stringent mass‑limit constraints, logistics operators might consider establishing a propellant storage facility as a strategic reserve.

In addition, to ensure the “last mile” delivery of satellites, roughly a dozen companies worldwide are designing, developing, and testing orbital transfer vehicles, according to Euroconsult. According to Euroconsult, by 2031, 120 orbital transfer vehicles will be in service. Meanwhile, according to foreign media, Rodolphe Saadé, the current CEO of CMA CGM, a company deeply rooted in the maritime shipping industry, is convinced that space represents the ultimate frontier for logistics. In a collaboration between CMA CGM and Thales, a French manufacturer of aerospace, defense, and transportation equipment, observers believe the two parties will focus on developing orbital logistics vehicles.

Due to space constraints, this article serves only as a starting point. What other opportunities do you see? Are you optimistic about space logistics? Feel free to leave a comment.