China’s burgeoning commercial space sector reached a new milestone as CAS Space successfully launched five satellites into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Wednesday.
“Starting from this mission, we aim to achieve approximately one launch per month,” said Shi Xiaoning, the chief designer of the commercial carrier rocket Lijian-1, also known as Kinetica-1, in an interview with CGTN. This ambitious plan signals a significant acceleration in China’s commercial space endeavors.
CAS Space, the developer of Lijian-1, is steadily working towards this goal. The recent launch placed five satellites into predetermined dawn-dusk sun-synchronous orbits, marking a successful step forward in their mission.
The satellites include two pioneers for the company’s AIRSAT satellite constellation, the Jilin-1 SAR01A, and Yunyao-1 21 and 22. These satellites are designed for land surveys, meteorological observations, and other applications, contributing valuable data for various fields.
The move towards monthly launches underscores China’s commitment to expanding its presence in space and fostering growth in its commercial space industry. For global investors and market analysts, this development opens new avenues for collaboration and investment in Asia’s dynamic space sector.
Academics and researchers can anticipate increased data availability for earth observation and meteorological studies, while the Asian diaspora and global readers gain insight into Asia’s advances in technology and exploration.
Reference(s):
China's commercial rocket sends 5 satellites, eyes monthly launch
cgtn.com
