Lijian-2

CAS Space has said that Kinetica-2 launch vehicles produced during 2026 and 2027 will not be recovered and will introduce reusable rocket technologies gradually.

Kinetica-2’s tri-core or penta-core configuration is intended to reduce needed parts, vehicle complexity, and costs.

CAS Space’s Kinetica-2 rocket completed its first launch on March 30, 2026.

CAS Space’s first Kinetica-2 launch was successful.

Derivatives of the borrowed rocket engines powered CAS Space’s Kinetica-2 on Monday and will power LM-12B soon.

Kinetica-2 is 53 meters tall and has a liftoff weight of 625 metric tons.

Kinetica-2 uses a liquid-propellant system.

Full-scale recovery tests for Kinetica-2 are scheduled for later in 2026.

Kinetica-2 made its debut at Jiuquan SLC.

Kinetica-2 Y1 lifted off at 7:00 p.m. Beijing Time from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone in northwest China.

CAS Space is integrating reusable technology into the Kinetica-2 platform.

The Kinetica-2 Y1 mission deployed the Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft, the New March 02 satellite, and the TS 01 educational satellite into their designated orbits.

Kinetica-2 is China’s first launch vehicle to use a Common Booster Core configuration.

CAS Space achieved the maiden flight of its Kinetica-2 Y1 carrier rocket on March 30, 2026.

One object from the Lijian-2 launch was cataloged in a 217 km by 604 km orbit with an 85.0-degree inclination.

Kinetica-2 carried a prototype cargo spacecraft and two small ridesharing satellites on its first launch.

Kinecore-4 will power Kinetica-2 geostationary transfer orbit and deep-space missions.

Kinetica-2 can be configured as a tri-core, single-core, no-side-core, or four-core penta-core vehicle depending on customer needs.