Full system test fire of the Lieyan-2 rocket engine in early 2026. Credit: Spark Space
PADUA, Italy — Chinese startup Spark Space has secured a series of funding rounds for what it claims will be the world’s largest electric-pump-fed rocket, following engine tests.
Spark Space, established in 2024 and based in the city of Hefei, is developing the Jinhua-1, or Evolution-1, rocket. The rocket is to be powered by the self-developed Lieyan-2 electric-pump-fed engine, with Spark Space aiming for a debut flight in 2027.
The expendable Jinhua-1 is a two-stage rocket, measuring 27.5 meters long with a 2.25-meter diameter. Nine Lieyan-2 engines will power the first stage, with a single vacuum-optimized variant on the second stage, giving a liftoff thrust of 90 tons. The company states a payload capacity of 1,500 kilograms to low Earth orbit (LEO) and 1,000 kg to sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), while Rocket Lab’s Electron carries around 300 kg to LEO.
The company announced a Pre-A round of nearly 100 million yuan ($14.8 million) June 1, led by Yunze Capital and Orbital Chenguang, a space computing firm, then secured tens of millions of yuan from Cathay Capital in Pre-A+ funding announced June 18. Spark Space previously raised angel round and angel+ funding within the last 12 months, according to the company, with backing from a mix of private and Hefei government-linked capital.
