CAS Space logo

CAS Space

operating 501–1,000 employees

Develops solid and liquid-propellant launch vehicles for dedicated and rideshare satellite missions, suborbital scientific experimentation, and space tourism

About

CAS Space (Zhongke Aerospace) is a Chinese commercial launch provider founded in 2018 as a spinoff of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Headquartered in Guangzhou with R&D centers in Beijing and Xi'an, the company develops the Kinetica family of launch vehicles and the Li Hong series of suborbital spacecraft.

The Kinetica 1 (PR-1) is a four-stage solid-propellant rocket capable of delivering 1.5 tonnes to SSO or 2 tonnes to LEO, with 10 successful flights and 84 satellites delivered through 11 missions. The Kinetica 2 (PR-2) is a kerosene/liquid-oxygen medium-lift vehicle targeting 7.8 tonnes to SSO and 12 tonnes to LEO, with first-stage reusability planned by 2027. A heavy variant, Kinetica 2H, adds four boosters for payloads up to 22 tonnes to LEO.

CAS Space also operates in the suborbital segment with the Li Hong 1 vehicle for microgravity experiments and is developing a suborbital tourism vehicle designed to carry seven passengers above the Karman line. The company maintains a vertically integrated operation spanning rocket design, engine development, manufacturing, and launch services from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

Products & Services

Kerosene/LOX pintle-injector engine series for Kinetica liquid-propellant vehicles
Four-stage solid-propellant launch vehicle with 1.5t SSO / 2t LEO capacity and 100% success rate across 10 missions
Medium-lift kerosene/LOX launch vehicle with 7.8t SSO / 12t LEO capacity, first-stage reusability planned
Heavy variant of Kinetica 2 with four boosters for 15t SSO / 22t LEO capacity
Reusable suborbital vehicle for scientific experiments with return capsule
Single-stage suborbital vehicle seating 7 passengers for flights above the Karman line

Locations

Beijing, CHN
Xi'an, CHN
Guangzhou, CHN

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Overview

Founded 2018
HQ Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Type Private Company

Leadership

Yang Yiqiang
Founder & Chairman
Liu Weipeng
International Marketing Manager

Classification