Kuaizhou

Kuaizhou (KZ, , meaning "speedy vessel") (also called Feitian Emergency Satellite Launch System, Feitian-1, FT-1) is a family of Chinese "quick-reaction" orbital launch vehicles. The Kuaizhou series of rockets is manufactured by ExPace, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), as their commercial 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. 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 payload into low Earth orbit. Heavy-lift models KZ-21 and KZ-31 are in development.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, but later that year it was revealed that a second launch was planned for December. The successful launch of Kuaizhou 11 on 7 December 2022 marked the rocket's return to service.

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.Kuaizhou-11 (KZ-11) Gunter's Space Page

Launch preparations are designed to take very little time, and the launch can be conducted on rough terrain. 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.

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.

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 (500 km) 30–32 tonnes (KZ-1A) 9 January 2017 Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: (500 km) (700 km) 30 tonnes, TEL-capable (KZ-1A Pro) 4 December 2024 (500 km) Kuaizhou 11(KZ-11) 10 July 2020 (700 km) 78 tonnes, TEL-capable Kuaizhou 21(KZ-21) 2025 (projected) Kuaizhou 31(KZ-31) (TBD) (engines)

List of launches Flight No. Date (UTC) Launch site Version; Flight number Payload Orbit Result 1 25 September 201304:37 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1Y1 Kuaizhou 1 SSO 2 21 November 201406:37 Jiuquan, LS-95B Kuaizhou 1Y2 Kuaizhou 2 SSO 3 9 January 201704:11 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY1 Jilin-1-03 SSO 4 29 September 201804:13 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY8 Centispace 1-S1 SSO 5 30 August 201923:41 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY10 KX-09 SSO 6 13 November 201903:40 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY11 Jilin-1-02A SSO 7 17 November 201909:52 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY7 KL-Alpha A and B LEO 8 7 December 201902:55 Taiyuan, LC-16 Kuaizhou 1AY2 Jilin-1-02B SSO 9 7 December 201908:52 Taiyuan, LC-16 Kuaizhou 1AY12 HEAD-2 A/B, SPACETY-16/17, Tianqi-4 A/B SSO 10 16 January 202003:02 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY9 Yinhe-1 LEO 11 12 May 202001:16 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY6 Xingyun 2-01 and Xingyun 2-02 LEO 12 10 July 202004:17 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 11Y1 Jilin-1-02E and Centispace-1-S2 SSO 13 12 September 202005:02 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY3 Jilin-1 Gaofen-02C SSO 14 27 September 202106:19 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY4 Jilin-1 Gaofen-02D SSO 15 27 October 202106:19 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY5 Jilin-1 Gaofen-02F SSO 16 24 November 202123:41 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY13 Shiyan 11 SSO 17 15 December 202102:00 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY17 GeeSAT-1A/1B LEO 18 22 June 202202:08 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY23 Tianxing-1 LEO 19 23 August 202202:36 Xichang Kuaizhou 1AY15 Chuangxin-16 A/B LEO 206 September 202202:24Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 1AY16Centispace 1-S3/S4LEO2124 September 202222:55Taiyuan, LC-16Kuaizhou 1AY14Shiyan 14/Shiyan 15SSO227 December 202201:15Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 11Y2Xingyun Jiaotong VDESSSO2322 March 202309:09Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 1AY19Tianmu-1 03–06SSO 249 June 202302:35Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 1AY20Longjiang-3LEO2520 July 202303:20Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 1AY22Tianmu-1 07–10SSO 2614 August 202305:32Xichang (Mobile Launcher Pad)Kuaizhou 1AY21Jiaotong 06–10 (HEAD 3A–3E)LEO 2725 December 202301:00 Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 1AY26Tianmu-1 11–14SSO2827 December 202306:50 Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 1AY27Tianmu-1 19–22SSO295 January 202411:20 Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 1AY28Tianmu-1 15–18SSO30 11 January 202403:52 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY24 Tianxing-1 02 SSO 3121 May 202404:15Jiuquan, LS-95BKuaizhou 11Y4Wuhan-1, VLEO test satellite, Tianyan-22, Lingque-3-01SSO3220 September 202409:43Xichang, (Mobile Launcher Pad)Kuaizhou 1AY31Tianqi 29-32 (4 satellites)LEO 334 December 202404:46Xichang, (Mobile Launcher Pad)Kuaizhou 1A ProY30Haishao-1 LEO 34 1 March 202510:00 Jiuquan, LS-95A Kuaizhou 1AY33 Unknown Payload SSO 3531 July 202502:00Xichang, (Mobile Launcher Pad)Kuaizhou 1A ProY34PRSC-S1LEO 365 December 202509:00Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 1A ProYJiaotong VDES A & BLEO 3713 December 202501:08Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 11Y8DEAR-5LEO 3816 March 202604:12Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 11Y78 SatellitesSSO 3917 June 202603:58Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 11Y13CentiSpace-1 Group 05LEO 4017 September 202602:40Jiuquan, LS-95AKuaizhou 11Y3Tianyi 51/52LEO

Launch Statistics

Kuaizhou configurations

Launch sites

Launch outcomes

Kuaizhou

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