China's Kinetica-2 Rocket Achieves Successful Maiden Flight
On March 30, 2026, at 13:00 Italian time, CAS Space's Kinetica-2 rocket successfully completed its inaugural flight from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This significant milestone ushers the Chinese company into a new era of orbital launch operations.
The Kinetica-2 (also known commercially as Lijian-2) is a 53-meter-tall launch vehicle designed to deliver up to 12 metric tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or 8 metric tons to a 500 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). Its first stage is powered by three cores, each equipped with three YF-102 engines, totaling nine engines. The decision to use these previously tested engines aimed to mitigate risks during its maiden voyage. While currently non-reusable, CAS Space intends to develop a reusable version in the coming years.
This inaugural flight was more than just a test; it successfully deployed three satellites into orbit: the New March 01 Technology Demonstration Satellite, the New March 02 Satellite (Xinzhengcheng 01/02), and the TS 01 (Tianshi 01) Educational Satellite.
Future Endeavors for CAS Space
Following this successful launch, CAS Space has several missions planned. Notably, a mission scheduled for later in 2026 aims to deploy 18 satellites for the Qianfan constellation.
The company is also actively developing new in-house engines, named Kinecore. These propellants are currently undergoing testing and may eventually be integrated into future Kinetica-2 launches. The goal is to enhance performance and gain greater control over their core technologies.
Alongside Kinetica-2's operations, the Kinetica-1 rocket, which has been in service since 2022, will continue its activities. CAS Space plans to increase launch frequency, potentially aiming for a mission per month, though a bi-monthly cadence might be more realistic. A debut launch from a sea platform is also anticipated within the year, offering greater flexibility in orbit selection.
Finally, the Lihong-1 program, focused on suborbital flights, is crucial for testing future technologies, particularly those related to re-entry and rocket reusability. The data gathered from this program will be instrumental in refining upcoming projects.
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