Lijian-1 (ZK-1A), launch vehicle, China

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Developers:

Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

CAS Space (Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd.)

 

[Administrator]

Lijian-1 (ZK-1A) - China’s largest solid-propellant launch vehicle

Nov 14, 2021

Lijian-1 (力箭一号, ZK-1A) is a four-stage solid-propellant launch vehicle jointly developed by the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and CAS Space (Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd.). According to the manufacturer, ZK-1A is the largest solid rocket by payload capacity in China, designed to launch a 1500 kg payload into a 500-km Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). The ground support system tests have been recently completed and ZK-1A is expected to perform its first mission in March 2022, launching six satellites.

 

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Lijian-1 first launch (ZK-1A)

Jul 27, 2022

The Lijian-1 launch vehicle (力箭一号, ZK-1A) was launched for the first time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu Province, northwest China, on 27 July 2022, at 04:12 UTC (12:12 local time). The Lijian-1 rocket (力箭一号), also known as ZK-1A, is a four-stage solid-propellant launch vehicle jointly developed by the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and CAS Space (Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd.). For its maiden launch, Lijian-1 launched six satellites into space.

 

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Lijian-1 launches 26 satellites (Kinetica-1)

Jun 7, 2023

The second Lijian-1 launch vehicle (Lijian-1 Y2 , 力箭一号遥二) launched 26 small satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu Province, China, on 7 June 2023, at 04:10 UTC (12:10 local time). The Lijian-1 rocket (力箭一号), also known as ZK-1A and Kinetica-1, is a four-stage solid-propellant launch vehicle jointly developed by the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and CAS Space (Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd.). According to CAS Space, the second Lijian-1 mission has successfully launched 26 small satellites into low-Earth orbit.

 

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Lijian-1 launches 5 satellites

Jan 23, 2024

The third Lijian-1 launch vehicle (Lijian-1 Y3 , 力箭一号遥三) launched 5 satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China, on 23 January 2024, at 04:03 UTC (12:03 local time). The Lijian-1 rocket (力箭一号), also known as ZK-1A and Kinetica-1, is a four-stage solid-propellant launch vehicle jointly developed by the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and CAS Space (Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd.). According to CAS Space, the five satellites, Taijing-1 03, Taijing-2 02, Taijing-2 04, Taijing-3 02 and Taijing-4 03 (泰景一号03星、泰景二号02星、泰景二号04星（默孚龙号）、泰景三号02星、泰景四号03) were successfully placed into the intended orbits.

 

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Lijian-2 will be reusable

Aug 10, 2024

Lijian-2 (力箭二号) is a medium-lift liquid-propellant launch vehicle developed by CAS Space (Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd.). Also known as Kinetica-2, Lijian-2 is expected to be launched for the first time in 2025. The first stage is expected to be recovered and re-used by 2028.

 

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Lijian-1 launches five satellites

Sep 25, 2024

The fourth Lijian-1 launch vehicle (力箭一号遥四, Lijian-1 Y4) launched five satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China, on 24 September 2024, at 23:33 UTC (25 September, at 07:33 local time). The Lijian-1 rocket (力箭一号), also known as ZK-1A and Kinetica-1, is a four-stage solid-propellant launch vehicle jointly developed by the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and CAS Space (Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd.). According to CAS Space, the five satellites successfully placed into orbits are: the first two AIRSAT constellation communications satellites (AIRSAT-01/02, 中科卫星01星、中科卫星02星, Zhongke-01/02), Jilin SAR01A (吉林一号SAR01A星) and Yunyao-21/22 (云遥一号21星、云遥一号22星).

 

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Lijian-1 launches 15 satellites

Nov 11, 2024

The fifth Lijian-1 launch vehicle (力箭一号遥五, Lijian-1 Y5) launched 15 satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China, on 11 November 2024, at 04:03 UTC (12:03 local time). The Lijian-1 rocket (力箭一号), also known as ZK-1A and Kinetica-1, is a four-stage solid-propellant launch vehicle jointly developed by the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and CAS Space (Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd.). According to CAS Space, the satellites were successfully placed into orbits: Omani IRSS-1/OL-1 remote sensing satellite (阿曼智能遥感卫星一号), Jilin-1 Gaofen-05B (吉林一号高分05B星), Pingtai 02A03 (平台02A03星), Yunyao-1 31~36 (云遥一号31星~36星), Shiyan-26 A,B,C (试验二十六号A、B、C星), Xiguang-1 04, 05 (西光壹号04星、05星), Tianyan-24 (天雁24星).

 

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Lijian-1 upgrades

Nov 12, 2024

The fifth Lijian-1 launch vehicle (力箭一号遥五, Lijian-1 Y5) launched 15 satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China, on 11 November 2024, at 04:03 UTC (12:03 local time).For the first time, the rocket used a 3.35m diameter fairing. The Lijian-1 rocket (力箭一号), also known as ZK-1A and Kinetica-1, is a four-stage solid-propellant launch vehicle jointly developed by the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and CAS Space (Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd.). According to Shi Xiaoning (chief designer of Lijian-1, CAS Space), the launch vehicle could accommodate 18 or 36 satellites in the future.