Chinese aerospace company CAS Space (the commercial division of the Academy of Sciences of the People's Republic of China) officially confirmed plans to hold the debut launch of its new liquid-fueled launch vehicle Kinetica-2 at the end of March 2026 year. Launch pad in the Gobi desert (Jiuquan launch site) is already preparing to receive the carrier, which should become a key element in China's strategy to reduce the cost of logistics in Earth orbit.
The main payload of the first flight will be the prototype cargo ship Qingzhou-1, developed by CAS Microsatellite Innovation Academy (IAMCAS).
The vehicle is part of a national program to create low-cost transportation systems to supply China's Tiangong space station (Tiangong). Unlike the Tianzhou heavy ships (Tianzhou), the Qingzhou project is aimed at prompt and commercially profitable cargo delivery, which is critical for maintaining the station's long-term viability.
Kinetica-2 rocket (Lijian-2) is a major step forward compared to the company's previous solid fuel models:
Configuration: length 53 meters, three central blocks in diameter 3,35 city.
Engines: three YF-102 engines are used in each stage (kerosene/liquid oxygen), developed by the state corporation CASC.
Carrying capacity: to 12 000 kg on low Earth orbit (LEO) and close 7 800 kg into sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) high 500 km.
Perspectives: the design of the carrier from the very beginning provides for the possibility of multiple use of steps, which puts Kinetica-2 on a par with modern Western developments.
CAS Space plans for 2026 year
After the Chinese New Year celebration is over (Year of the Horse), the company goes into the mode of maximum startup activity. In addition to debuting in March, three more launches of Kinetica-2 series rockets with satellites for national satellite internet megagroups are planned for the current year.
IN 2026 solid fuel rocket Kinetica-1, on whose account 11 launches (1 unsuccessful), must make at least eight starts, including two unique sea launches.
Also following the successful suborbital tests of the space tourism capsule in January, CAS Space continues to certify systems for tourist flights.
The Kinetica-2 launch is part of China's big wave of new reusable missiles, which are to debut in 2026 year. The success of this mission will confirm the ability of private-state companies of the PRC to not simply copy Western technologies, and to integrate them into the national infrastructure on a par with giants like Long March.
Source: https://lookintothe.space