CAS Space

Chinese space launch enterprise From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

CAS Space
Native name
广州中科宇航探索技术有限公司
FoundedApril 2018; 7 years ago (2018-04) in Beijing, China
Quick facts Trade name, Native name ...
Guangzhou Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd.
CAS Space
Native name
广州中科宇航探索技术有限公司
IndustryLaunch service provider
FoundedApril 2018; 7 years ago (2018-04) in Beijing, China
HeadquartersGuangzhou, Guangdong, China
Websitewww.cas-space.com
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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

The Kinetica 2 is a medium-lift liquid propellant rocket. It is 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] Featuring a CBC design,[clarification needed] it boasts a core stage with a diameter of 3.35 meters and stretches 53 meters in length. It is capable of delivering payloads up to 7.8 tons to SSO at 500 km altitude and 12 tons to LEO.[9]

The Kinetica 2H variant is capable of delivering payloads up to 12 tons to SSO at an altitude of 500 km.[10]

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.[10]

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.[11][12][needs update] The timeline for achieving mature, round-trip suborbital space tourism has been extended to 2030.[7]

Launches

Kinetica 1

More information Flight number, Serial number ...
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 Jilin-1 Gaofen-05B
Pingtai 02A03
Yunyao-1 31-36
Shiyan-26 A, B, C
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.[13]
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[14]
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 [14]
9 Y8 19 October 2025
03:33[15]
LS-130, JSLC PRSC-HS1
AIRSAT-03 (Zhongke 03)
AIRSAT-04 (Zhongke 04)[15]
SSO Success
10 Y9 9 November 2025
03:32
LS-130, JSLC Chutian-2 01
Chutian-2 02
SSO Success
11 Y11[16] 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
12 Y12[16] 2025 LS-130, JSLC TBA SSO Planned
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Kinetica 2

More information Flight number, Serial number ...
Flight number Serial number Date (UTC) Launch site Payload Orbit Result
1 NET 2025
JSLC Maiden flight Planned
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References

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