In the photo - Kinetica-2 carrier rocket became the "pioneer" of commercial launches in China, albeit still formal // Photo: china in space.com
The Kinetica-2 (Lijian-2) carrier, launched from Jiuquan Space Center in northwestern China, is owned by CAS Space (China). It carried three vehicles into orbit, including a prototype commercial cargo spacecraft and a satellite that will function as a small orbital laboratory.
What is Kinetica-2?
“Kinetica-2” is a medium payload carrier, which is inferior to the Falcon 9 rocket. The Chinese carrier in single-use mode can deliver up to 12 tons of payload into orbit, which is half the capacity of the Falcon 9 in a similar mode. At the time of launch, the carrier was single-use, but it will become reusable in the future.
In reusable mode “Falcon 9” delivers up to 17.5 tons of cargo into orbit. The first “Kinetica-2” with the return of the first stage to Earth and its use in further launches will take place later this year.
Future SpaceX competitor
CAS Space, a company created by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed the Kinetica-2 carrier. Despite the involvement of a state-affiliated entity in the development, Chinese television network CGTN called the launch “the first commercial launch in the country’s history.” At the time of launch, the carrier was disposable, but it will become reusable in the future.
The cost of launching “Kinetica-2” was 30 thousand yuan (about $4.3 thousand) per 1 kg of payload. In turn, the U.S. company “SpaceX” estimates the output of 1 kg of payload on the carrier “Falcon 9” at least $5 thousand, or 14% more expensive.
Chinese carrier has already crossed the threshold of competitiveness, and after the start of operation of reusable first stage CAS Space promises to reduce the cost of launches by half! According to Yang Haoliang, the company’s vice president and project manager of the Kinetica-2 launch vehicle, the company has started accepting preliminary applications for subsequent commercial flights.
Although SpaceX has made significant progress in putting cargoes into orbit using reusable stages, experts believe that in 5-10 years Chinese developers will be able to surpass their American competitors.
