Kuaizhou

Kuaizhou (KZ, Chinese: 快舟; pinyin: kuàizhōu, meaning "speedy vessel")[1] 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.[2] Kuaizhou 11, introduced in 2018, is a larger model able to launch a 1,500-kilogram (3,300 lb) payload into low Earth orbit. Heavy-lift models KZ-21 and KZ-31 are in development.[3] The Kuaizhou series of rockets is manufactured by ExPace, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), as their commercial launch vehicles.[4][5]

History

The rocket series is based on CASIC's ASAT and BMD mid-course interceptor rockets. Development on the KZ rockets started in 2009.[4][6]

The maiden flight of Kuaizhou 1 occurred on 25 September 2013, launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.[7]

Kuaizhou 2 was launched at 06:37 GMT on 21 November 2014, again from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.[2][1]

The first commercial launch inaugurated the Kuaizhou 1A version on 9 January 2017, from Jiuquan. It placed three small satellites into a polar orbit.[8]

Specifications

The solid-fuel KZ-1A can place 200 kg payload into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometers. Planned KZ-11[9] version would be able to put 1-metric-ton to the same orbit

Launch preparations are designed to take very little time, and the launch can be conducted on rough terrain.[5]

The rocket's low requirements for launch help with cost savings, yielding a launch price under $10,000 per kilogram of payload. This price level is very competitive in the international market.[6]

Satellites can be installed on a Kuaizhou rocket and stored in a maintenance facility. Once needed, the rocket is deployed by a transporter-erector-launcher vehicle (TEL) to a secure location. Launch readiness time can be as short as several hours.[10]

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)[2] [11][12][13] 30–32 tonnes[2] 19.4 m (64 ft) 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)
Kuaizhou 1A
(KZ-1A)		 9 January 2017 (UTC) 1.2–1.4 m (3 ft 11 in–4 ft 7 in)[14] 300 kg (660 lb) [15] 250 kg (550 lb) (500 km)
200 kg (440 lb) (700 km)[14]		 30 tonnes, TEL-capable[11] 19.4 m (64 ft)[14] 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)[14] $20,000/kg ($9,100/lb)[16]
Kuaizhou 11
(KZ-11)		 2018 (planned)[9] 2.2–2.6 m (7 ft 3 in–8 ft 6 in)[14] 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) (700 km)[14] 78 tonnes,[14] TEL-capable[11] 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)[14] $10,000/kg ($4,500/lb)[6]
Kuaizhou 21
(KZ-21)		 2025 (projected)[11] 20,000 kg (44,000 lb)[3] 4 m (13 ft)[3]
Kuaizhou 31
(KZ-31)		 In development 70,000 kg (150,000 lb)[3] 4 m (13 ft) (engines)[3]

List of launches

Flight № Date (UTC) Launch site Version Payload Orbit Result
1 25 September 2013
04:37[7]		 Jiuquan LA-4 Kuaizhou 1 Kuaizhou 1 SSO Success
2 21 November 2014
06:37[2]		 Jiuquan LA-4 Kuaizhou 1 Kuaizhou 2 SSO Success
3 9 January 2017
04:11		 Jiuquan LA-4 Kuaizhou 1A Jilin-1-03 SSO Success
4 29 September 2018
04:13[17]		 Jiuquan LA-4 Kuaizhou 1A Centispace 1-S1 SSO Success
2018[17] Jiuquan LA-4 Kuaizhou 1A Jilin-1 09–12 SSO Planned
2018[17] Jiuquan LA-4 Kuaizhou 11 12 small satellites[17] SSO Planned

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Clark, Stephen (21 November 2014). "China launches for the second time in 24 hours". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Barbosa, Rui C. (November 21, 2014). "China launches Kuaizhou-2 in second launch within 24 hours". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "China to test large solid-fuel rocket engine". China Daily. December 25, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Keane, Phillip (20 September 2016). "ExPace, China's Very Own SpaceX". Asian Scientist.
  5. 1 2 "First commercial space base to be built in Wuhan". SpaceDaily. 14 September 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Lin, Jeffrey; Singer, P.W. (October 7, 2016). "China's Private Space Industry Prepares To Compete With SpaceX And Blue Origin". Popular Science. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  7. 1 2 "China launches satellite to monitor natural disaster". Xinhua. September 25, 2013.
  8. ↑ Clark, Stephen (9 January 2017). "Kuaizhou rocket lifts off on first commercial mission". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  9. 1 2 Gunter's space page: Kuaizhou-11 (KZ-11)
  10. ↑ "New rocket readies for liftoff in 2016". SpaceDaily. 10 November 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Kuai Zhou (Fast Vessel)". China Space Report. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  12. ↑ http://spaceflights.news/?launch=kuaizhou-1-•-jilin-1
  13. ↑ https://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/lanc_kuaizhou.html
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "快舟十一号小型固体运载火箭(KZ-11)：推迟到2018年首飞" [Kuaizhou 11 small solid launch vehicle (KZ-11): First flight planned for 2018] (in Chinese). October 30, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  15. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtdoZv58kI8
  16. ↑ Zhou, Xin (30 October 2017). "Kuaizhou-11 to send six satellites into space". Xinhua. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Pietrobon, Steven (25 August 2018). "Chinese Launch Manifest". Retrieved 25 August 2018.
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