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 |
| Industry | Launch service provider |
| Founded | April 2018 in Beijing, China |
| Headquarters | Guangzhou, Guangdong, China |
| Website | www |
History
editCAS 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
editKinetica 1
editCAS 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
editThe 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] Featuring a CBC design, 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.[8] The Kinetica 2H variant is capable of delivering payloads up to 12 tons to SSO at an altitude of 500 km.[9]
Kinetica 3
editThe Kinetica 3, a reusable vehicle, will be capable of delivering payloads up to 20 tons to SSO at an altitude of 500 km.[9]
Space Tourism Vehicle
editIn 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, followed by a full-fledged uncrewed suborbital flight in 2023, with tourism service set to begin in 2024.[10][11] The timeline for achieving mature, round-trip suborbital space tourism has been extended to 2030.[7]
References
edit
- ^ "Launch of powerful new carrier rocket expected in 2022". english.www.gov.cn.
- ^ a b c d "关于我们 - 中科宇航". www.cas-space.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ "CAS SPACE". en.cas-space.com. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- ^ "China aims to complete space station in another huge year in space". 3 January 2022.
- ^ "产品信息 - 中科宇航". www.cas-space.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ "Guangzhou moves to establish Chinese commercial space cluster". SpaceNews. April 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "中科宇航提升火箭发射效率——航班化发射卫星渐成现实". www.ce.cn. 2024-03-29. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "力箭二号液体运载火箭将于2025年首飞，拟执行重要发射任务". Weixin.com. 2024-01-11.
- ^ a b "我国商业火箭发展概况". 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ Andrew Jones published (2021-10-04). "Chinese company aims for suborbital space tourism with familiar rocket design". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
- ^ "A Chinese New Shepard? CAS Space Eyes Space Tourism - Dongfang Hour". 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2022-06-07.