HELSINKI – Commercial launch provider CAS Space is looking to enter international markets to secure its long-term growth.
CAS Space, a commercial spin-off of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has established itself with its solid Kinetica-1 (Lijian-1) rocket, which has been launched four times, including a Debut flight 2022all with success. Its main customer is Changguang Satellite Technology (CGST), another commercial CAS entity building an Earth observation constellation.
The upcoming Kinetica-2 rocket, currently scheduled for launch in September 2025, will enhance CAS Space’s capabilities to meet broader customer needs, with a payload capacity of up to 7,800 kg in sun-synchronous orbit and 12,000 kg in low orbit. the earth. Possible recovery tests for reuse are planned for the end of 2026. Recently it has gained a role by launching a cheap freight transportation system to the Tiangong Space Station, and aims to offer suborbital tourist flights by 2027.
CAS Space plans 5-8 launches next year, with 2-3 Kinetica-2 launches also booked. But the company wants to expand to offer its services worldwide.
“There is a lot of competition right now and our perspective is that we should have a very big market here (in China), but it is not big enough for all these big companies,” said Liu Weipeng, international marketing manager of CAS Space. , told Space News at the 75th International Astronautical Congress in Milan, October 17.
CAS Space faces competition for launch contracts for constellations such as Guowang and A thousand sails (Qianfan) and commercial plans from not only fellow startups including Landspace, Galactic Energy, Space Pioneer, iSpace and Deep Blue Aerospace, but also from state space contractor CASC and its Long March rockets. It now faces competition for China’s potential sub-orbital tourism market with Deep Blue Aerospace sell two seats for flights from 2027.
“So if a company like us wants to grow, it is important that we expand to global customers,” Liu said.
Part of that effort was the presence at the IAC, where more than 11,000 participants were present. But entering the market is challenging on a number of fronts, including the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and other export controls, as well as competition.
“It’s difficult,” Liu said, as he tried to make international inroads. “I would say it will be worth it, but it will be a very difficult first step, especially if you know all the regulations in place.” Liu adds that ITAR has almost completely excluded CAS Space from the US and European markets.
Competition from SpaceX, with its Transporter missions, has also been cited as a major hurdle to winning international contracts. There is also the issue of perception regarding the Chinese launch sector.
“There is a misconception, I would say, that the Chinese companies are hidden. They are not transparent enough. It’s something we see often,” says Liu. “But as a commercial company focused on global markets, we want to change that perspective.” Part of this is being active on X, formerly Twitter, posting updates and even responding to questions.
The company appears to have a mix of government support, private investment, commercial income and strategic partnerships, including support from CAS. When the company grew up $31 million in 2021, the top investors were CITIC Juxin, ultimately owned by state-owned investment company CITIC Group Corporation, Zhongke Chuangxing, an accelerator fund established by CAS, and Yuexiu Industrial Investment, another state-owned investment vehicle operating in Guangdong-Hong. Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
CAS Space is currently launching from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, northwest China. But it wants to expand into the new commercial Hainan spaceport near Wenchang. This, and a plan to begin sea launches next year, could provide more flexibility.
In connection with this, the company also plans to deploy cruise ships off the coast of Wenchang to watch launches from the Wenchang commercial spaceport. The move is tied to broader space tourism plans, which will see Suborbital Missions and CAS Space partner with China Tourism Group in 2022.
For this purpose, CAS Space first wants to obtain a Chinese commercial. “We have potential partners. We have a number of ongoing projects, so we want to take the first step for China’s commercial space launch industry into the global space market,” Liu said. “Hopefully in the next few launches we’ll have a few payloads from other countries very soon.”