Origin Space

Origin Space () is a seed-stage Chinese private company researching and developing technology to enable space resource utilization. The company contracted for its first satellite, a space telescope, to be built by DFH Satellite, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), "the state-owned main contractor for China’s space programs."
The company was established in 2017, and raised additional capital in 2019 through a angel round led by Linear Venture and Matrix Partners China. The long-term goal is to "develop mineral resources such as rare-earth metals from near-Earth asteroids.
The initial company focus is on fielding multi-spectrum space telescopes. A small ultraviolet spectroscopy telescope flew in Earth orbit in late 2019. The company is working on an x-ray space telescope with Hong Kong University, and signed a contract to build an optical telescope.
On 27 April 2021 the company successfully launched the NEO-1 satellite aboard a Long March 6 rocket. This satellite will be used to carry out scientific research based on observations of small celestial bodies in low-Earth orbit and to test a prototype technology for the acquisition of space resources.