Daobac Space Corporation
 | |
 Anh Cồ Space Center, the CVD's primary launch facility. | |
| CVDX | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Space |
| Founded | June 11, 2006 |
| Founder | Mạch Diệu Hoa |
| Headquarters | Congvat , |
Key people | |
| Products | |
| Services | Commercial Launch Services |
| Revenue |
|
| Owner | |
Number of employees | TBD (TBD) |
$x.x BillionThe Daobac Space Corporation (Daoan: Công ty Vũ trụ Đảo Bắc), commonly abbreviated as the DSC (CVD in native spelling), is a private joint venture company that provides commercial launch services for Daobac, member states of the Association of Ozeros Nations as well as other foreign governments or institutions that are willing to pay for the DSC's services. The company was established with the express purpose of reducing the cost of transporting goods into space. The DSC also manufactures and operates two families of launch vehicles, each utilized for different purposes. Its fleet of Dragon rockets classified as small-lift launch vehicles (SLVs) are geared primarily for payloads as small as 25 and up to 1,000 kilograms. Meanwhile its fleet of Phoenix rockets are, depending on the rocket's configuration for launch, can be categorized as either a medium-lift launch vehicle (MLV) and heavy-lift launch vehicle (HLV). The Phoenix 1 MLV is capable of delivering payloads up to 16,800 kilograms whereas the Phoenix X HLV is capable of payloads of up to 63,800 kilograms.
The Phoenix's nature as a (partially) reusable vehicle and Daobac's location in the equator allows the DSC to launch rockets with much greater payloads with the same fuel consumption as rockets launched outside of the equator that requires more fuel usage. These two factors combined gives the DSC a unique competitive edge. The DSC is the successor organization to the Daoan Aeronautical Institute (DAI), an independent government agency of Daobac that was responsible for the country's civilian space program. The Daoan government invited both domestic and foreign companies to invest and partake ownership of the company. The strategy was two fold: by privatizing and commercializing the DAI the Daoan government would both reduce government expenditure as it no longer needed to provide funding for the organization and also generate revenue through the new commercial entity. It would also preserve Daobac's space launch capability. After a period of negotiations the DSC was established on June 11th, 2006. Currently 80% of the company's shares are owned by members of the Association of Ozeros Nations whereas the remaining 20% are distributed among foreign shareholders.
Management
Structure
The DSC's primary headquarters is located in Congvat, the capital city of Daobac. A board of directors (BoD) is responsible for the day to day operations of the company. The BoD is led by a Chief Executive Officer who is the highest ranking officer of the company and is expected to take an active role as a decision maker in approving and setting forth business strategies and policy. The BoD is overseen by a board of commissioners (BoC) whose role is to provide oversight to the activities of the board of directors and sets forth the high level strategic direction of the company. The Board of Commissioners is headed by a Chairman. The CEO is nominated by the board of directors who must then be approved by the board of commissioners. The current CEO is <<TBD>> and the current Chairman is Mạch Diệu Hoa.
Strategic Business Direction
The 2019 board of commissioners assembly has set forth the following long term direction of the company:
- Provide reliable and economical launch services
- Reduce costs of space exploration
- Revolutionize space exploration technologies
Organization
Ownership
Below is a table of all shareholders of the DSC.
| Country | Total share | Shareholder | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
 Daobac
|
45% | Tran Industries | 16% |
| Mach Aerospace Group | 12% | ||
| Hoasen Holdings | 9% | ||
| Khuat Corp | 5% | ||
| Bao Group | 3% | ||
 Pulau Keramat
|
12.4% | Vespanian Exchange Institute | 9.8% |
| Akajarah Emas | 2.4% | ||
 Kajera
|
11.5% | xxx | 11.5% |
 Gristol-Serkonos
|
10% | Morgenroete Aerospace | 10% |
 Onekawa-Nukanoa
|
8.1% | Ahuriri Aerospace | 8.1% |
 Belfras
|
5.5% | TBD | 5.5% |
History
Government Agency Era
The DSC's predecessor organization, the Daoan Aeronautical Institute, was established as an independent agency of the Daoan government that was tasked to pioneer the country's civlian space program. It was founded on January 3rd, 1966 and its first mandate was to provide the country with a domestic orbital launch capability. The DAI was able to study existing rocket and missile systems that were produced by domestic & foreign arms manufacturers. Cruise and ballistic missiles were of particular interests for the DAI engineers. Between 1967 and 1974 DAI engineers developed sounding rockets which accumulated with the Dragon 1 rocket, a small-lift launch vehicle that was capable to deliver a 25kg payload into low ajax orbit (LAO). Its test flights were marred with various failures and it was not until 1975 that the first Dragon 1 was successfully launched into LAO. providing the DAI with its first significant milestone. This was followed in 1976 with its first successful launch of a domestically produced communications microsatellite called the Hoasen-1.
Over the next decade the Dragon 1 rocket was primarily used for launching domestic microsatellites into LAO. The Dragon 2 was an improved version of the Dragon 1 which came into service in 1980 with a payload capacity of 40 kilograms. The Daoan government eventually invited the neighboring nations of Kajera and Pulau Keramat to participate in a joint venture to develop a higher capacity small-lift launch vehicle with an estimated payload delivery of up to 1,000 kilograms to LAO. The project was divided into two phases. The first Phase tok place between 1982 - 1986 and resulted in the Dragon 3 SLV, capable of delivering a 150 kilogram payload to LAO. Phase 1 was used as a testing bed for various technologies from the three nations. The final phase of the project was undertaken between 1987 - 1994 which gave birth to the Dragon X, a medium-lift launch vehicle capable of delivering 3.2 tonnes of payload to LAO.
Commercialization
Prior to its dissolution the DAI had faced growing financial problems due to the continued reduction of government funding for its programs. It was unable to pursue a commercial venture due to its status as a government agency which constitutionally restricted the agency from doing so. Due to this in 2005 the Daoan government commisioned a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a private company that specializes in providing commercial launch services for not only Daobac, but for the international community as well. The study concluded that such a venture would be economically viable and profitable in the long term. The Daoan government then lobbied the private sector, both within Daobac and abroad, inviting them to invest and partake in this joint venture. Five Daoan firms alongside various firms from Association of Ozeros Nations agreed to take over ownership and administration of the DAI and in 2006 the DAI was dissolved as a government agency and reformed as a privately owned joint venture company in the form of the DSC. No longer restricted from commercializing its services, the DSC's new management and owners quickly set about redefining the organization's direction and secured many launch contracts from governments and private institutions. The DSC was able to take advantage of existing launch vehicles that were utilized by the DAI and retained most of the DAI's engineers. The manufacturing facilities the DSC inherited from the DAI however were not meant for commercial purposes. To increase its manufacturing capability the DSC negotiated an agreement with Ahuriri Aerospace where Ahuriri would help manufacture components, and on occassion entire launch vehicles, on behalf of the DSC in order to meet production targets. At the same time, Ahuriri would assist in improving the manufacturing facilities the DSC inherited from the DAI. Due to this partnership by 2008 the DSC's manufacturing capabilities had been significantly improved. Profits obtained from early commercial launch contracts were invested for research & development of a replacement launcher for the Dragon X MLV.
Expansion
The Phoenix Program is envisioned as the DSC's next milestone. Its goal was the development of a next generation medium & heavy launch system that can be configured as either expendable or partially reusable in nature. The DSC invited engineers from Morgenroete Aerospace, Belfras, Ahuriri Aerospace and Zacapican to come together and develop this next generation launch system. Various incentives such as transfer of technology and subsidized launch contracts were offered by the DSC to incentivize the international community to participate and invest in this new launch vehicle. The first phase of the Phoenix program was focused in the development of a medium lift launch vehicle with research & development taking place between 2008 - 2011 and the launch vehicle was named the Phoenix 1. Its first test launch took place on 2012 and its first commercial launch took place on 2013 of the same year. With the introduction of the Phoenix 1, the older Dragon X MLV was gradually retired with its final launch taking place in 2016. The next phase of the Phoenix Program focused on the development of a heavy-lift launch vehicle, designated as the Phoenix X. Feasability studies and computer modelling simulations were conducted from 2016 to 2018 and made its first test flight in 2019. The Phoenix X eventually received its launch worthy certification and completed its first commercial launch in 2021.
Hardware
Launch Vehicles
| Vehicle | Type | Reusability | Manufacturer | Payload mass to ... (kg) | Status | Date of flight | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAO | GTO | Other | First | Latest | |||||
| Dragon 1 | SLV | Expendable | Daobac
|
25 | n/a | n/a | Retired | 1975 | 1990 |
| Dragon 2 | SLV | Expendable | Daobac
|
40 | n/a | n/a | Retired | 1980 | 2010 |
| Dragon 3 | SLV | Expendable | Daobac Kajera Pulau Keramat
|
150 | n/a | n/a | Operational | 1986 | 2022 |
| Dragon X | MLV | Expendable | Daobac Kajera Pulau Keramat
|
3,200 | 1,150 | 1,600 | Retired | 1995 | 2016 |
| Dragon 4 | SLV | Expendable | Daobac Kajera Pulau Keramat Onekawa-Nukanoa
|
1,080 | 1,080 | n/a | Operational | 2022 | 2022 |
| Phoenix 1 | MLV | Partial | Daobac Gristol-Serkonos Onekawa-Nukanoa Belfras Zacapican
|
22,800 | 8,300 | 4,000 | Operational | 2012 | 2022 |
| Phoenix X | HLV | Partial | Daobac Gristol-Serkonos Onekawa-Nukanoa Belfras Zacapican
|
63,800 | 26,700 | 16,800 | Operational | 2021 | 2022 |
Dragon Program
The Dragon rocket family was the DSC's primary launch vehicle before the Phoenix came into operation and was the result of both domestic and international collaboration. All vehicles of the Dragon family are expendable in nature. The Dragon 1 and 2 rockets were designed and manufactured entirely by Daobac. However the Dragons 3 & X rockets were the result of international collaboration between Daobac, Kajera, and Pulau Keramat. Engineers from both countries were invited to Daobac to develop more advanced versions of the Dragons and thus the Dragons 3 & X were created. Although primarily used to launch satellites in orbit and lacked the capability to carry a spacecraft into orbit the Dragon rockets were known for its reliability and efficiency. Throughout its service it has completed XXX launches, of which only XX resulted in failure. The longest serving Dragon rocket, the Dragon 2, was in operation from 1980 until it was retired by the DSC in 2010. Its retirement due to the low demand for microsatellite launches. The DSC's fleet of Dragon 2, 3 & X launch vehicles were inherited from its predecessor the Daoan Aeroanutical Institute. This allowed the new administration of the DSC to cut costs by no longer needing to research & develop a new launch vehicle in the near future. The DSC efficiently utilizied the Dragon rockets for a variety of needs. Microsatellites were launched form Dragon 2 vehicles, small satellites from Dragon 3s, and heavier satellites from the Dragon X. The latest version of the Dragon, the Dragon 4, was developed in collaboration between Daobac, Kajera, Pulau Keramat and Onekawa-Nukanoa and went into service on 2022. As a result of the Dragon 4's introduction, the DSC's fleet of Dragon 3 SLVs are due to be retired in 2025.
Phoenix Program
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The Phoenix series of launch vehicles is the DSC's partially reusable launch vehicles. The Phoenix launch systems have been successful in drastically reducing the cost per kilogram of payload and cost per launch as well for customers. The first Phoenix to be developed, the Phoenix 1, is a medium-lift launch vehicle and entered service in 2012. It is capable of carrying a maximum payload of 22,800 kilograms into LAO at approximately $XX million per launch. Its expendable counterpart, the Dragon X, was only capable of carrying 3,200 kilograms of payload costs $XX million per launch, XX% higher compared to the Phoenix 1 and other international competitors. The Phoenix X, the heavy-lift version of the Phoenix 1, was capable of carrying a maximum payload of 63,800 kilograms and entered service in 2021. The Phoenix Program was envisioned to be the DSC's way of revolutionizing space transportation, achieve long term sustainability and commercial success. Initial studies determined that a solo undertaking of this project would result in huge financial costs for the company and as a result the DSC invited engineers from Morgenroete Aerospace, Belfras and Ahuriri Aerospace to participate in the joint venture. Negotiations began in 2007 between the participatory governments and institutions. The final agreement laid out the groundwork for the development of the Phoenix rockets. Morgenroette, Belfras & Ahuriri would provide additional funding, manpower and facilities for development and manufacturing of the Phoenixes. In return all three entities would be given some ownership of the DSC, with Morgenroete having the largest share among the three, and the DSC would send engineers to the Joint Space Agency's Santa Reze launch facility to help facilitiate local manufacturing of the Phoenix rockets at the JSA.
Spacecrafts
| Name | Type | Crew | Manufacturer | Max Payload (kg) | Status | Date of flight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Latest | ||||||
| Unicorn | Cargo | None | Daobac Gristol-Serkonos Onekawa-Nukanoa Belfras Zacapican
|
3,310 | Retired | 2012 | 2019 |
| Unicorn 2-CR | Cargo | None | Daobac Gristol-Serkonos Onekawa-Nukanoa Belfras Zacapican
|
6,000 | Operational | 2018 | 2022 |
| Unicorn 2-CW | Manned | 4 | Daobac Gristol-Serkonos Onekawa-Nukanoa Belfras Zacapican
|
6,000 | Operational | 2018 | 2022 |