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 (2018-04) in Beijing, China
HeadquartersGuangzhou, Guangdong, China
Websitewww.cas-space.com

CAS Space (Guangzhou Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd.) is a Chinese commercial space launch enterprise founded in 2018 of mixed ownership, partially owned by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.[1][2] Originally started in Beijing, the enterprise is now headquartered in Guangzhou, China, while its Beijing location continues to be its primary R&D center. The enterprise has constructed its dedicated launch pad and facilities at JSLC.[2] The launch pad is considered the first launch pad in China built for commercial use. The enterprise has multiple subsidiaries including a Guangzhou-based company responsible for the operation of its aerospace technology & industry base and a Xi'an-based propulsion system company.[2] The enterprise is purposed to materialize research projects from Chinese Academy of Sciences and is dedicated to space exploration, research and to be a launch service provider. The enterprise is currently developing the Kinetica (力箭) rocket family.

The enterprise has a motto of "Go above and beyond", or "无畏向上 无限可能" as it is publicized in Chinese.[2]

Rockets

Kinetica 1

Kinetica 1
Kinetica 1 launching on it's maiden flight in 2022.
FunctionLaunch vehicle
Country of origin China
Size
Height29.7 m (97 ft)
Diameter2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Mass135 t (298,000 lb)
Stages4
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
Payload to SSO
Mass1,650 kg (3,640 lb)
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sitesJSLC
Total launches2
Success(es)2
Failure(s)0
Partial failure(s)0
First flight27 July 2022
Last flight7 June 2023
First stage – SP70
Powered by1 Solid
Maximum thrust2,066.8 kilonewtons (464,600 lbf)
PropellantSolid
Second stage
Powered by1 Solid
Maximum thrust1,081.2 kilonewtons (243,100 lbf)
PropellantSolid
Third stage
Powered by1 Solid
Maximum thrust439.3 kilonewtons (98,800 lbf)
PropellantSolid
Fourth stage
Powered by1 Solid
Maximum thrust78 kilonewtons (18,000 lbf)
PropellantSolid

The company'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 all 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]

CAS Space conducted ground tests for the four-stage Kinetica 1 in November 2021.[7] Its maiden flight was conducted on 27 July 2022, sending 6 satellites into SSO.[8] It is currently the largest solid-fueled rocket in China.

List Of Launches

Flight number Serial number Date (UTC) Launch site Payload Orbit Result
1 Y1 27 July 2022
04:12
LA-4, JSLC SATech 01
Dianci Zuzhuang Shiyan × 2
GNSS-R
Jinan-1
Nanyue Science Satellite
SSO Success
2 Y2 7 June 2023
04:10
LA-4, JSLC Shiyan 24A/B
Fucheng-1
Xi'an Hangtou-8
CXPD
21 undisclosed satellites
SSO Success
3 Y3 Q1 2024 LA-4, JSLC TBA TBA Planned

Kinetica 1A, 2, 3, 3H

The enterprise has presented a roadmap including a medium-lift launch vehicle Kinetica 1A (scheduled to enter service in 2022), a small-lift liquid-fueled reusable vehicle Kinetica 2, a medium-lift reusable vehicle Kinetica 3 with its heavier variant Kinetica 3H (2 boosters added), and a sub-orbital experimental vehicle Near-space Experimental Reusable Platform (NEXT-REP).[2]

Space Tourism Vehicle

In August 2021, it was announced that CAS Space was developing a single stage sub-orbital space tourism vehicle which is very similar to Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. The vehicle, composed of a booster and capsule, would be powered by five Xuanyuan engines. An uncrewed demonstration flight is expected to occur in 2022, then a full-fledged uncrewed suborbital flight in 2023, with tourism service to start in 2024.[9][10] The vehicle under development is designated ZK-6.[2]

References

  1. "Launch of powerful new carrier rocket expected in 2022". english.www.gov.cn.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "关于我们 - 中科宇航". www.cas-space.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  3. "CAS SPACE". en.cas-space.com. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  4. "China aims to complete space station in another huge year in space". 3 January 2022.
  5. "产品信息 - 中科宇航". www.cas-space.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  6. "Guangzhou moves to establish Chinese commercial space cluster". SpaceNews. April 6, 2021.
  7. "China is developing new solid rockets to boost overall space capabilities". SpaceNews. March 18, 2022.
  8. "一箭6星!力箭一号运载火箭首飞成功-新华网". www.news.cn. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  9. Andrew Jones published (2021-10-04). "Chinese company aims for suborbital space tourism with familiar rocket design". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  10. "A Chinese New Shepard? CAS Space Eyes Space Tourism - Dongfang Hour". 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
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