Engineering:CAS Space
| CAS Space | |
Native name | 广州中科宇航探索技术有限公司 |
| Industry | Launch service provider |
| Founded | April 2018 in Beijing, China |
| Headquarters | Guangzhou, Guangdong, China |
| Website | www |
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
 | It has been suggested that this section be split out into another page titled Kinetica 1. (Discuss) (June 2023) |
 Kinetica 1 launching on it's maiden flight in 2022. | |
| Function | Launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Template:China |
| Size | |
| Height | 29.7 m (97 ft) |
| Diameter | 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) |
| Mass | 135 t (298,000 lb) |
| Stages | 4 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) |
| Payload to SSO | 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | JSLC |
| Total launches | 3 |
| Successes | 3 |
| Failures | 0 |
| Partial failures | 0 |
| First flight | 27 July 2022 |
| Last flight | 23 January 2024 |
| First stage – SP70 | |
| Engines | 1 Solid |
| Thrust | 2,066.8 kilonewtons (464,600 lbf) |
| Fuel | Solid |
| Second stage | |
| Engines | 1 Solid |
| Thrust | 1,081.2 kilonewtons (243,100 lbf) |
| Fuel | Solid |
| Third stage | |
| Engines | 1 Solid |
| Thrust | 439.3 kilonewtons (98,800 lbf) |
| Fuel | Solid |
| Fourth stage | |
| Engines | 1 Solid |
| Thrust | 78 kilonewtons (18,000 lbf) |
| Fuel | Solid |
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 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 second largest solid-fueled rocket in China after Orienspace's Gravity-1 rocket.
List of Launches
| Flight number | Serial number | Date (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Orbit | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2 | Y2 | 7 June 2023 04:10 |
LS-130, JSLC | Shiyan 24A/B Fucheng-1 Xi'an Hangtou-8 CXPD 21 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 |
Kinetica 1A, 2, 3, 3H
The enterprise has presented[when?] 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] [needs update]
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
- ↑ "Launch of powerful new carrier rocket expected in 2022". http://english.www.gov.cn/statecouncil/ministries/202106/04/content_WS60b9798ac6d0df57f98dab28.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "关于我们 - 中科宇航". http://www.cas-space.com/about.
- ↑ "CAS SPACE". http://en.cas-space.com/index/index/newsDetail?id=29.
- ↑ "China aims to complete space station in another huge year in space". 3 January 2022. https://spacenews.com/china-aims-to-complete-space-station-in-another-huge-year-in-space/.
- ↑ "产品信息 - 中科宇航". http://www.cas-space.com/product?t=1.
- ↑ "Guangzhou moves to establish Chinese commercial space cluster". April 6, 2021. https://spacenews.com/guangzhou-moves-to-establish-chinese-commercial-space-cluster/.
- ↑ "China is developing new solid rockets to boost overall space capabilities". March 18, 2022. https://spacenews.com/china-is-developing-new-solid-rockets-to-boost-overall-space-capabilities/.
- ↑ "一箭6星！力箭一号运载火箭首飞成功-新华网". http://www.news.cn/politics/2022-07/27/c_1128867572.htm.
- ↑ Andrew Jones published (2021-10-04). "Chinese company aims for suborbital space tourism with familiar rocket design" (in en). https://www.space.com/china-suborbital-space-tourism-cas-space-rockets.
- ↑ "A Chinese New Shepard? CAS Space Eyes Space Tourism - Dongfang Hour" (in en-US). 2021-09-02. https://dongfanghour.com/cas-space-eyes-space-tourism/.
 |
