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.
Function	Launch vehicle
Country of origin	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
Mass	2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
Payload to SSO
Mass	1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	JSLC
Total launches	3
Success(es)	3
Failure(s)	0
Partial failure(s)	0
First flight	27 July 2022
Last flight	23 January 2024
First stage – SP70
Powered by	1 Solid
Maximum thrust	2,066.8 kilonewtons (464,600 lbf)
Propellant	Solid
Second stage
Powered by	1 Solid
Maximum thrust	1,081.2 kilonewtons (243,100 lbf)
Propellant	Solid
Third stage
Powered by	1 Solid
Maximum thrust	439.3 kilonewtons (98,800 lbf)
Propellant	Solid
Fourth stage
Powered by	1 Solid
Maximum thrust	78 kilonewtons (18,000 lbf)
Propellant	Solid
[edit on Wikidata]

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

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]