Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Kuaizhou

Kuaizhou (KZ, Chinese: 快舟; pinyin: kuàizhōu, meaning "speedy vessel")[1] (also called Feitian Emergency Satellite Launch System, Feitian-1, FT-1)[2][3][4] is a family of Chinese "quick-reaction" orbital launch vehicles. Flying since 2013, Kuaizhou 1 and 1A consist of three solid-fueled rocket stages, with a liquid-fueled fourth stage as part of the satellite system.[5] Kuaizhou 11, which flew an unsuccessful maiden flight in July 2020 (and successful second flight in 2022), is a larger model able to launch a 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) payload into low Earth orbit. Heavy-lift models KZ-21 and KZ-31 are in development.[6] The Kuaizhou series of rockets is manufactured by ExPace, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), as their commercial launch vehicles.[7][8]

History

Kuaizhou 11 Y2 carrier rocket pre-launch
Kuaizhou 1A Y6 on the transporter erector launcher prior to launch, 12 May 2020

The rocket series is based on CASIC's Anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) and BMD mid-course interceptor rockets, in particular the DF-21 Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) (another Chinese rocket that was based on DF-21 was the Kaituozhe-1). Development on the KZ launch vehicles started in 2009. The Kuaizhou launch vehicles were to provide an integrated launch vehicle system with the rapid ability to replace Chinese satellites that might be damaged or destroyed in an act of aggression in orbit. The vehicle uses mobile launch platform. The launch vehicle is operated by the PLA Rocket Force.[7][9][5]

The maiden flight of Kuaizhou 1 launch vehicle, orbiting the Kuaizhou 1 natural disaster monitoring satellite, occurred on 25 September 2013, launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.[10]

Second flight of Kuaizhou 1 launch vehicle, orbiting the Kuaizhou 2 natural disaster monitoring satellite, was launched at 06:37 UTC on 21 November 2014, again from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.[5][1]

The first commercial launch inaugurated the Kuaizhou 1A version on 9 January 2017, from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. It placed three small satellites into a polar orbit.[11]

The maiden launch of Kuaizhou 11 was on 10 July 2020. The launch was a failure, and the rocket was initially declared retired in April 2022,[12] but later that year it was revealed that a second launch was planned for December.[13] The successful launch of Kuaizhou 11 on 7 December 2022 marked the rocket's return to service.[14]

Specifications

The solid-fuel KZ-1A can place 200 kg payload into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometres. The KZ-11 version is able to put 1000 kg to the same orbit.[15]

Launch preparations are designed to take very little time, and the launch can be conducted on rough terrain.[8] The rocket's low requirements for launch help with cost savings, yielding a launch price under US$10,000 per kilogram of payload. This price level is very competitive in the international market.[9]

Satellites can be installed on a Kuaizhou launch vehicle and stored in a maintenance facility. Once needed, the launch vehicle is deployed by a Transporter erector launcher (TEL) vehicle to a secure location. Launch readiness time can be as short as several hours.[16][4]

Models

Rocket First launch Last Launch Payload fairing size Payload to LEO Payload to SSO Lift-off mass Length Diameter Thrust Payload cost
Kuaizhou 1
(KZ-1)
25 September 2013 21 November 2014 430 kg (950 lb) (500 km)[5][17][18] 30–32 tonnes[5] 19.4 m (64 ft) 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)
Kuaizhou 1A
(KZ-1A)
9 January 2017 20 September 2024 1.2–1.4 m (3 ft 11 in – 4 ft 7 in)[19] 400 kg (880 lb)[20][21] 250 kg (550 lb) (500 km)
200 kg (440 lb) (700 km)[19]
30 tonnes, TEL-capable[17] 19.4 m (64 ft)[19] 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)[19] $20,000/kg ($9,100/lb)[22]
Kuaizhou 1A Pro
(KZ-1A Pro)
4 December 2024 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)[23] 450 kg (990 lb)[24] 360 kg (790 lb) (500 km) [25] 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)[19]
Kuaizhou 11
(KZ-11)
10 July 2020[26] 2.2–2.6 m (7 ft 3 in – 8 ft 6 in)[19] 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) (700 km)[19] 78 tonnes,[19] TEL-capable[17] 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)[19] $10,000/kg ($4,500/lb)[9]
Kuaizhou 21
(KZ-21)
2025 (projected)[17] 20,000 kg (44,000 lb)[6] 4 m (13 ft)[6]
Kuaizhou 31
(KZ-31)
(TBD)[citation needed] 70,000 kg (150,000 lb)[6] 4 m (13 ft) (engines)[6]

List of launches

Flight No. Date (UTC) Launch site Version; Flight number Payload Orbit Result
1 25 September 2013
04:37 [10]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1
Y1
Kuaizhou 1 SSO Success
2 21 November 2014
06:37 [5]
Jiuquan, LS-95B Kuaizhou 1
Y2
Kuaizhou 2 SSO Success
3 9 January 2017
04:11
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y1
Jilin-1-03 SSO Success
4 29 September 2018
04:13
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y8
Centispace 1-S1 SSO Success
5 30 August 2019
23:41
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y10
KX-09 SSO Success
6 13 November 2019
03:40
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y11
Jilin-1-02A SSO Success
7 17 November 2019
09:52 [27]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y7
KL-Alpha A and B LEO Success
8 7 December 2019
02:55 [28]
Taiyuan, LC-16 Kuaizhou 1A
Y2
Jilin-1-02B SSO Success
9 7 December 2019
08:52 [28]
Taiyuan, LC-16 Kuaizhou 1A
Y12
HEAD-2 A/B, SPACETY-16/17, Tianqi-4 A/B SSO Success
10 16 January 2020
03:02 [29]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y9
Yinhe-1 LEO Success
11 12 May 2020
01:16 [30]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y6
Xingyun 2-01 and Xingyun 2-02 LEO Success
12 10 July 2020
04:17 [31]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 11
Y1
Jilin-1-02E and Centispace-1-S2 SSO Failure
13 12 September 2020
05:02 [32]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y3
Jilin-1 Gaofen-02C SSO Failure
14 27 September 2021
06:19 [33]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y4
Jilin-1 Gaofen-02D SSO Success
15 27 October 2021
06:19[34][32]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y5
Jilin-1 Gaofen-02F SSO Success
16 24 November 2021
23:41[35]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y13
Shiyan 11 SSO Success
17 15 December 2021
02:00[36]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y17
GeeSAT-1A/1B LEO Failure
18 22 June 2022
02:08[37]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y23
Tianxing-1 LEO Success
19 23 August 2022
02:36[38]
Xichang Kuaizhou 1A
Y15
Chuangxin-16 A/B LEO Success
20 6 September 2022
02:24[39]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y16
Centispace 1-S3/S4 LEO Success
21 24 September 2022
22:55[40]
Taiyuan, LC-16 Kuaizhou 1A
Y14
Shiyan 14/Shiyan 15 SSO Success
22 7 December 2022
01:15[41]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 11
Y2
Xingyun Jiaotong VDES SSO Success
23 22 March 2023
09:09[42]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y19
Tianmu-1 03–06 SSO Success
24 9 June 2023
02:35[43]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y20
Longjiang-3 LEO Success
25 20 July 2023
03:20[44]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y22
Tianmu-1 07–10 SSO Success
26 14 August 2023
05:32[45]
Xichang (Mobile Launcher Pad) Kuaizhou 1A
Y21
Jiaotong 06–10 (HEAD 3A–3E) LEO Success
27 25 December 2023
01:00[46]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y26
Tianmu-1 11–14 SSO Success
28 27 December 2023
06:50[47]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y27
Tianmu-1 19–22 SSO Success
29 5 January 2024
11:20[48]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y28
Tianmu-1 15–18 SSO Success
30 11 January 2024
03:52[49]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1A
Y24
Tianxing-1 02 SSO Success
31 21 May 2024
04:15[50]
Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 11
Y4
Wuhan-1, VLEO test satellite, Tianyan-22, Lingque-3-01 SSO Success
32 20 September 2024
09:43[51]
Xichang, (Mobile Launcher Pad) Kuaizhou 1A
Y31
Tianqi 29-32 (4 satellites) LEO Success
33 4 December 2024
04:46[52]
Xichang, (Mobile Launcher Pad) Kuaizhou 1A Pro
Y30
Haishao-1 LEO Success

Launch Statistics

Kuaizhou configurations

1
2
3
4
5
6
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
2025
  •   Kuaizhou 1
  •   Kuaizhou 1A
  •   Kuaizhou 11

Launch sites

1
2
3
4
5
6
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
2025
  •   Jiuquan
  •   Xichang
  •   Taiyuan

Launch outcomes

1
2
3
4
5
6
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
2025
  •   Success
  •   Partial failure
  •   Failure
  •   Planned

See also

References

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  2. ^ "Kuaizhou-1 (KZ-1) / Fei Tian 1". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Chinese Kuaizhou-1A rocket launches several small satellites". 9 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b "China Unveils New Rocket, People Get Real Curious About What It's For". 13 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Barbosa, Rui C. (21 November 2014). "China launches Kuaizhou-2 in second launch within 24 hours". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e "China to test large solid-fuel rocket engine". China Daily. 25 December 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  7. ^ a b Keane, Phillip (20 September 2016). "ExPace, China's Very Own SpaceX". Asian Scientist.
  8. ^ a b "First commercial space base to be built in Wuhan". SpaceDaily. 14 September 2016.
  9. ^ a b c Lin, Jeffrey; Singer, P.W. (7 October 2016). "China's Private Space Industry Prepares To Compete With SpaceX And Blue Origin". Popular Science. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
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