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
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 | Payload fairing size | Payload to LEO | Payload to SSO | Lift-off mass | Length | Diameter | Thrust | Payload cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuaizhou 1 (KZ-1) | 25 September 2013 | 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 | 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 11 (KZ-11) | 10 July 2020[23] | 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; F-1 | Kuaizhou 1 | SSO | Success |
| 2 | 21 November 2014 06:37 [5] | Jiuquan, LS-95B | Kuaizhou 1; F-2 | Kuaizhou 2 | SSO | Success |
| 3 | 9 January 2017 04:11 | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-1 | Jilin-1-03 | SSO | Success |
| 4 | 29 September 2018 04:13 | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-2 | Centispace 1-S1 | SSO | Success |
| 5 | 30 August 2019 23:41 | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-3 | KX-09 | SSO | Success |
| 6 | 13 November 2019 03:40 | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-4 | Jilin-1-02A | SSO | Success |
| 7 | 17 November 2019 09:52 [24] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-5 | KL-Alpha A and B | LEO | Success |
| 8 | 7 December 2019 02:55 [25] | Taiyuan, LC-16 | Kuaizhou 1A; F-6 | Jilin-1-02B | SSO | Success |
| 9 | 7 December 2019 08:52 [25] | Taiyuan, LC-16 | Kuaizhou 1A; F-7 | HEAD-2 A/B, SPACETY-16/17, Tianqi-4 A/B | SSO | Success |
| 10 | 16 January 2020 03:02 [26] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-8 | Yinhe-1 | LEO | Success |
| 11 | 12 May 2020 01:16 [27] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-9 | Xingyun 2-01 and Xingyun 2-02 | LEO | Success |
| 12 | 10 July 2020 04:17 [28] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 11; F-1 | Jilin-1-02E and Centispace-1-S2 | SSO | Failure |
| 13 | 12 September 2020 05:02 [29] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-10 | Jilin-1 Gaofen-02C | SSO | Failure |
| 14 | 27 September 2021 06:19 [30] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-11 | Jilin-1 Gaofen-02D | SSO | Success |
| 15 | 27 October 2021 06:19[31][29] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-12 | Jilin-1 Gaofen-02F | SSO | Success |
| 16 | 24 November 2021 23:41[32] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-13 | Shiyan 11 | SSO | Success |
| 17 | 15 December 2021 02:00[33] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-14 | GeeSAT-1A/1B | LEO | Failure |
| 18 | 22 June 2022 02:08[34] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-15 | Tianxing-1 | LEO | Success |
| 19 | 23 August 2022 02:36[35] | Xichang | Kuaizhou 1A; F-16 | Chuangxin-16 A/B | LEO | Success |
| 20 | 6 September 2022 02:24[36] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-17 | Centispace 1-S3/S4 | LEO | Success |
| 21 | 24 September 2022 22:55[37] | Taiyuan, LC-16 | Kuaizhou 1A; F-18 | Shiyan 14/Shiyan 15 | SSO | Success |
| 22 | 7 December 2022 01:15[38] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 11; F-02 | Xingyun Jiaotong VDES | SSO | Success |
| 23 | 22 March 2023 09:09[39] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-19 | Tianmu-1 03–06 | SSO | Success |
| 24 | 9 June 2023 02:35[40] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-20 | Longjiang-3 | LEO | Success |
| 25 | 20 July 2023 03:20[41] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-21 | Tianmu-1 07–10 | SSO | Success |
| 26 | 14 August 2023 05:32[42] | Xichang | Kuaizhou 1A; F-22 | Jiaotong 06–10 (HEAD 3A–3E) | LEO | Success |
| 27 | 25 December 2023 01:00[43] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-23 | Tianmu-1 11–14 | SSO | Success |
| 28 | 27 December 2023 06:50[44] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-24 | Tianmu-1 19–22 | SSO | Success |
| 29 | 5 January 2024 11:20[45] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-25 | Tianmu-1 15–18 | SSO | Success |
| 30 | 11 January 2024 03:52[46] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 1A; F-26 | Tianxing-1 02 | SSO | Success |
| 31 | 21 May 2024 04:15[47] | Jiuquan, LS-95A | Kuaizhou 11; F-03 | Wuhan-1, VLEO test satellite, Tianyan-22, Lingque-3-01 | SSO | Success |
See also
- Kaituozhe-1, a previous Chinese small lift orbital launcher based on the DF-21 IRBM.
- China National Space Administration
- ExPace
- Long March (rocket family)
- Space program of China
- Small-lift launch vehicle