Demo Flight (Qingzhou Prototype Spacecraft)

Overview

Destination: Polar Orbit
Mission: Test Flight

Polar Orbit Launch Area 140 Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

First test launch and mission of CAS Space’s Kinetica-2 rocket, with 3 spacecraft on board: * New March 02 (Qingzhou space station cargo resupply vehicle Prototype Spacecraft) * New March 01 in-orbit experiments hosting satellite * TS-01

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • March 30, 2026, 12:13 p.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • March 30, 2026, 11:28 a.m.

Liftoff.


Cosmic_Penguin • March 29, 2026, 5:01 p.m.

Updating launch date and time based on old information of possible secondary payload. Assignment of this launch to the launch listed in this launch window is highly uncertain.


Cosmic_Penguin • March 28, 2026, 12:25 p.m.

May possibly be linked with planned launch on March 30, with high uncertainties.


Cosmic_Penguin • March 21, 2026, 6:36 p.m.

Updated planned payload information.


Kinetica 2

Family:
Configuration:

Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    52.0 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    4.2 m
  • Launch Mass
    625.0 T
  • Thrust
    7515.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Kinetica 2
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
    PR-2
  • Full Name
    Kinetica 2
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    12000.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    8000.0 kg

CAS Space

CAS Space

(CAS)

Founded: 2018 Successes: 15 Failures: 1 Pending: 0

Agency Type:

CAS Space is a spin-off company from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) that is operating and plans to operate various launch vehicles of the Zhongke series.

INFO WIKI

Related News

SpaceNews

Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes rendezvous tests in orbit

China has conducted rendezvous and proximity operations tests involving a prototype cargo spacecraft and a satellite in a step towards low-cost orbital infrastructure. The post Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes rendezvous test…

NASASpaceflight

China debuts new launchers, tests orbital servicing and outlines future deep-space missions

CAS Space and Space Pioneer have both debuted new Chinese commercial launchers within days of… The post China debuts new launchers, tests orbital servicing and outlines future deep-space missions appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

SpaceNews

China’s Kinetica-2 rocket debuts successfully, sending prototype cargo spacecraft to orbit

Chinese firm CAS Space successfully reached orbit with the first launch of its Kinetica-2 launch vehicle Monday, with a prototype cargo spacecraft among the payloads. The post China’s Kinetica-2 rocket debuts successfully, sending prototy…

NASASpaceflight

Launch Preview: SLS, Falcon 9, Atlas V, and Soyuz launches comprise busy launch manifest

Nine launches are scheduled this week, with rockets expected to liftoff from Florida, California, Russia,… The post Launch Preview: SLS, Falcon 9, Atlas V, and Soyuz launches comprise busy launch manifest appeared first on NASASpaceFlight…

SpaceNews

CAS Space to launch Kinetica-2 in late March carrying prototype cargo spacecraft

Chinese launch firm CAS Space is preparing for the inaugural launch of its reusable Kinetica-2 liquid rocket in late March, carrying a prototype cargo spacecraft. The post CAS Space to launch Kinetica-2 in late March carrying prototype ca…

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Area 140


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 19 hours ago
Starlink Group 17-52
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
6 days, 15 hours ago
NROL-95
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office.


Long March 6A
Success
6 days, 21 hours ago
TJSW-27A & B
Launch Complex 9A - Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

2 Chinese classified satellites claimed to be for communication technology test purposes. Actual mission not known.


Long March 7A
Success
1 week ago
Tianlian 3-01
201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Tianlian is a Chinese data tracking and relay communications geostationary satellite series. The TL-3 (Tian Lian 3) satellites are the 3rd generation…


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 4 days ago
Starlink Group 17-51
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Starship
Success
1 week, 4 days ago
Flight 13
Orbital Launch Pad 2 - SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA

13th test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle. Second flight of Starship V3. For the first time, Starship will carry 20 V3 Starlink sa…


Kinetica 1
Success
1 week, 5 days ago
5 satellites
Launch Area 130 - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Share-ride of 5 commercial Earth observation and technology demonstration satellites to SSO, including SpaceTY's TY-48. Details TBD.


Long March 3B/E
Success
1 week, 6 days ago
Tianlian 2-06
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) - Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Tianlian is a Chinese data tracking and relay communications geostationary satellite series. The TL 2 (Tian Lian 2) satellites represent the second g…


Gravity-1
Success
2 weeks ago
9 satellites
Yellow Sea (launch location 5) - Haiyang Oriental Spaceport

Carried 9 satellites on a share-ride to sun-synchronous orbit. Details TBD.


Falcon 9
Success
2 weeks, 1 day ago
MRV-1
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

The Northrop Grumman/SpaceLogistics MRV-1 is a mission extension payload including a mission robotic vehicle (MRV) and multiple mission extension pod…