CAS Space (Chinese: 中科宇航) is a Chinese commercial space launch provider based in Guangzhou. It was founded in 2018 and majority owned by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.[1][2]
History
CAS Space was founded in Beijing, but the company is now headquartered in Guangzhou, China, while its Beijing location continues to be its primary R&D center. The company has constructed its dedicated launch pad and facilities at the JSLC.[2] The launch pad is considered the first launch pad in China built for commercial use. The company has multiple subsidiaries, including a Guangzhou-based subsidiary responsible for the operation of its aerospace technology and industry base, and a Xi’an-based subsidiary for propulsion system.[2]
CAS Space aims to materialize research projects from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and is dedicated to space exploration, research, and providing launch services. The company is currently developing the Kinetica rocket family. The enterprise’s motto is “Go above and beyond,” or “无畏向上 无限可能” as it is publicized in Chinese.[2]
Rockets
Kinetica 1
CAS Space’s first solid-fuel launch vehicle Kinetica 1 (Lijian-1, PR-1)[3][4] is 30 m (98 ft) tall, 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) in diameter and weighs 135 t (149 tons). It consists of four solid fuel stages. The Kinetica 1 is capable of lifting 1.5 t (1.65 tons) to SSO at an altitude of 500 km or 2 t (2.20 tons) to LEO.[5][6]
Kinetica 2, and 2H
Kinetica 2 is a medium-lift liquid-propellant rocket. It was scheduled for its debut flight in 2025, with plans for the first stage and booster recovery by 2027.[7] Using kerosene and liquid oxygen propellant.[8] At liftoff the vehicle is propelled by three similar rocket stages strapped together side-by-side.[9] The core stages have a diameter of 3.35 meters and a height of 53 meters. It is capable of delivering payloads up to 7.8 tons to SSO at 500 km altitude and 12 tons to LEO.[10]
The Kinetica 2H variant is capable of delivering payloads up to 12 tons to SSO at an altitude of 500 km.[11]
Kinetica 3
The Kinetica 3, a reusable vehicle, will be capable of delivering payloads up to 20 tons to SSO at an altitude of 500 km.[11]
Space Tourism Vehicle
In August 2021, CAS Space announced that it was developing a single-stage sub-orbital space tourism vehicle similar to Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The vehicle, consisting of a booster and capsule, would be powered by five Xuanyuan engines. An uncrewed demonstration flight is expected to take place in 2022, [needs update] followed by a full-fledged uncrewed suborbital flight in 2023, with tourism service set to begin in 2024.[12][13][needs update] The timeline for achieving mature, round-trip suborbital space tourism has been extended to 2030.[7]
Launches
Kinetica 1
| Flight number | Serial number | Date (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Orbit | Result | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Y1 | 27 July 2022 04:12 |
LS-130, JSLC | SATech 01 Dianci Zuzhuang Shiyan × 2 GNSS-R Jinan-1 Nanyue Science Satellite |
SSO | Success | Maiden flight of Kinetica 1 |
| 2 | Y2 | 7 June 2023 04:10 |
LS-130, JSLC | Shiyan 24A/B Fucheng-1 Xi’an Hangtou-8 CXPD (X Shexian Pianzheng Lifang) Tianyi 26 20 undisclosed satellites |
SSO | Success | |
| 3 | Y3 | 23 January 2024 04:03 |
LS-130, JSLC | Taijing-1-03 Taijing-2-02 Taijing-2-04 Taijing-3-02 Taijing-4-03 |
SSO | Success | |
| 4 | Y4 | 24 September 2024 23:33 |
LS-130, JSLC | Zhongke-01/02 Jilin-1 SAR-01A Yunyao-21/22 |
SSO | Success | |
| 5 | Y5 | 11 November 2024 04:03 |
LS-130, JSLC | Shiyan-26 A, B, C Jilin-1 Gaofen-05B Jilin-1 Pingtai-02A 03 Yunyao-1 31-36 Xiguang-1 04, 05 OmanSat 1 Tianyan-24 |
SSO | Success | |
| 6 | Y6 | 27 December 2024 01:03 |
LS-130, JSLC | Dier-3 (B300-L01) Yunyao-1 × 6 Yinglong 1 Yangwang 2 Yixian A CASAA-Sat |
SSO | Failure | Third stage instability.[14] |
| 7 | Y7 | 21 May 2025 04:05 |
LS-130, JSLC | Taijing-3 04 Taijing-4 02A Xingrui-11 Xingjiyuan-1 Lifangti-108 001 Xiguang-1 02 (Tanli) |
SSO | Success | |
| 8 | Y10 | 19 August 2025 07:33[15] |
LS-130, JSLC | AIRSAT 05 (Hashiao-2/Zhongke-05) Duogongneng Shiyan 2-01 Duogongneng Shiyan 2-02 Duogongneng Shiyan 2-03 (Tiantuo 6) Tianyan-26 (Henan Ligong-2) Thumbsat-1 Thumbsat-2 |
SSO | Success | [15] |
| 9 | Y8 | 19 October 2025 03:33[16] |
LS-130, JSLC | PRSC-HS1 AIRSAT-03 (Zhongke 03) AIRSAT-04 (Zhongke 04)[16] |
SSO | Success | |
| 10 | Y9 | 9 November 2025 03:32 |
LS-130, JSLC | Chutian-2 01 Chutian-2 02 |
SSO | Success | |
| 11 | Y11[17] | 10 December 2025 04:03 |
LS-130, JSLC | Satellite 813 (United Arab Emirates) Jilin-1 Gaofen 07B-01/07C-01/07D-01 Dongpo-15 Yixing-2 09 Yixian-A SPNEX (Egypt) Slipper2Sat (Nepal) |
SSO | Success | Payload deployment was reported as not being coordinated with other satellite operators, leading to a near-collision with a Starlink satellite.[18] |
| 12 | Y12 | 14 April 2026 04:03[19] |
LS-130, JSLC | Jilin-1 Gaofen 07 A(02 ) x 8 吉星高分07A02星等8颗卫星 |
SSO | Success | |
| 13 | Y13 | 15 May 2026 04:33[20] |
LS-130, JSLC |
|
SSO | Success | |
| 14 | Y14 | 15 June 2026 03:44[21] |
LS-130, JSLC |
|
SSO | Success |
Kinetica 2
References
- ^ “Launch of powerful new carrier rocket expected in 2022”. english.www.gov.cn.
- ^ a b c d “关于我们 – 中科宇航”. www.cas-space.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ “CAS SPACE”. en.cas-space.com. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- ^ “China aims to complete space station in another huge year in space”. 3 January 2022.
- ^ “产品信息 – 中科宇航”. www.cas-space.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ “Guangzhou moves to establish Chinese commercial space cluster”. SpaceNews. April 6, 2021.
- ^ a b “中科宇航提升火箭发射效率——航班化发射卫星渐成现实”. www.ce.cn. 2024-03-29. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ Chinese company targets 2025 for 1st launch of powerful new rocket. Jan 2024
- ^ https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/a-new-rocket-sea-launches-and-more-chinese-company-cas-space-is-thinking-big
- ^ “力箭二号液体运载火箭将于2025年首飞，拟执行重要发射任务”. Weixin.com. 2024-01-11.
- ^ a b “我国商业火箭发展概况”. 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ Andrew Jones published (2021-10-04). “Chinese company aims for suborbital space tourism with familiar rocket design”. Space.com. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
- ^ “A Chinese New Shepard? CAS Space Eyes Space Tourism – Dongfang Hour”. 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
- ^ Mansfield, Simon (28 December 2024). “Launch of China’s Lijian 1 Y6 commercial rocket ends in failure”. Space Daily. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ a b 李, 国利; 王, 晨宇 (19 August 2025). “一箭七星！力箭一号遥十运载火箭发射成功”. XinhuaNet.com. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
- ^ a b 李, 国利; 王, 晨宇 (19 October 2025). “一箭三星！力箭一号遥八运载火箭发射成功”. XINHUAnet.com. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ “Here comes the mission recap video (some people seem to have already posted it on X). Mission Y9 is scheduled for early November, followed by Mission Y11 and Y12”. X (Previously Twitter). Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ Wall, Mike (13 December 2025). “Spacecraft from Chinese launch nearly slammed into Starlink satellite, SpaceX says”. Space.com. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ^ 李, 国利; 王, 晨宇 (14 April 2026). “一箭八星！我国成功发射吉星高分07A02星等卫星”. XINHUAnet.com. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ^ 李, 国利; 王, 晨宇 (15 May 2026). “我国成功发射泰景三号05A星等5颗卫星”. XINHUAnet.com. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ^ 李, 国利; 李, 欣媛 (15 June 2026). “一箭8星！我国成功发射吉星高分07C04星等8颗卫星”. XINHUAnet.com. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
