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At 7:41 a.m. on August 31, 2019, the KZ-1A solid launch vehicle, developed by Expace Technology Co., Ltd. (Expace) subordinated to China Space Sanjiang Group Corporation of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC), successfully completed its launch of accurately sending two satellites into the pre-selected orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. One is the microgravity technology experiment satellite developed by National Space Science Center of CAS, and the other one is the Xiaoxiang 1-07 satellite developed by Spacety Co., Ltd. (Changsha).
As a general-purpose solid launch vehicle mainly for launching 300kg-level small low-orbit satellites, KZ-1A has general international interface and features high flight reliability, high orbit injection accuracy, short preparation period, few support requirements and low launch cost.
January 2017
KZ-1A successfully completed its first commercial launch in the mode of "sending three satellites into orbit by one launch vehicle".
September 2018
KZ-1A successfully completed its launch of sending the CentiSpace test satellite into orbit.
KZ-1A had completed two commercial launches in 2017 and 2018, respectively. This is the third commercial launch for KZ-1A. This success further verifies the fast response capability of "Kuaizhou" solid launch vehicles, and also indicates the upcoming of intensive commercial launches by CASIC in the second half of 2019.
To quickly respond to customers' requirements, Expace has commenced batch production of general components of launch vehicle in advance and carried out mission design and development according to the development progress of satellite customers. Currently, it has entered the intensive performance stage. According to Expace's plan, it will complete several KZ-1A launch services in the second half of 2019 as agreed, and carry out the implementation plan and technical process verification in advance aiming at launch in the mode of large satellite constellation networking in the future.
Through this launch, China's first space-to-space link docking test on satellite-to-vehicle communication was completed. With strong support and close cooperation of Xi'an Satellite Monitor and Control Center and Beijing Space Information Relay and Transmission Technology Research Center, after the separation of the satellites from the launch vehicle, the final stage of the launch vehicle is used to provide short-term telemetry service for the satellites by means of the space-based measuring and control relay link.
In recent years, while actively promoting the development of the commercial aerospace industry and systematically planning and implementing the "Five Clouds + One Train" commercial aerospace project, CASIC has also given great impetus to the development of low-cost launch vehicle technology, focused on the development of "Kuaizhou" launch vehicles as well as commercial aerospace power technology and industry, and further improved the ability of entering space at this stage. Expace is the first company engaged in commercial launch services in China, established by CASIC based on the principle of socialization and marketization with a view to seizing the opportunity of commercial aerospace development. Aiming to be a world-leading commercial launch service company and adhering to the development idea of management, technology and commercial mode innovation, Expace keeps on carrying forward the deep integration of capital, market and talents, and devotes itself to becoming a forerunner of domestic commercial launch service, a pioneer of domestic commercial space industry and an explorer of aerospace economy development.
Since the establishment in February 2016, Expace has been actively exploring the domestic commercial satellite launch market by starting with market development, technology innovation and capacity building. In 2017, Expace completed series A round, raising more than RMB 1.2 billion mainly for the "Kuaizhou" launch vehicle development and production capacity building, product R&D investment and innovation center construction. The general assembly and control center project for launch vehicles (Phase I) at the Wuhan National Aerospace Industry Base invested and built by Expace was officially commenced in October 2017. Currently, the construction works has been fully completed while the equipment installation and commissioning works is underway. It is expected that the project would be put into operation before the end of the year. (Written by Ke Xuan Photo by Zhang Tong)
