Space Race: Chinese Company to Launch Experimental Cargo Missions with Reusable Rocket

A Chinese space company is gearing up for the inaugural launch of its Kinetica-2 liquid propellant rocket in August 2025.

The impressive Kinetica-2, towering at 174 feet and boasting an 11-foot width, features a multi-stage core booster along with two side boosters.

Yang Haoliang, the vice president of CAS Space, which is overseeing the rocket's construction, disclosed that the liftoff weight of Kinetica-2 would be 628 metric tons.

Yang emphasized the rocket's robust transport capacity, high reliability and economical operation, expressing hopes that it would become a key launch vehicle for deploying China's low-cost cargo spaceships, space-based internet network and scientific satellites.

CAS Space, known for its previous launch of the Kinetica-1 solid rocket, aims to set a new milestone with the Kinetica-2, incorporating a more intricate liquid propellant launcher designed for reusability, according to Space.com.

According to Yang, Kinetica-2's mission includes transporting a prototype low-cost cargo vessel into outer space, China Daily reported.

The Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai is responsible for designing this cargo vessel. China Manned Space Agency intends to utilize the cargo vessel to shuttle essentials between Earth and the Tiangong space station, according to China Daily.

CAS Space has established a rocket plant in Guangzhou's Nansha district, the first of its kind in the province. Additionally, the company is setting up a rocket engine testing facility in Aotou township in Guangzhou.

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In a separate achievement, another Chinese space company, Orienspace, recently made history with its Gravity-1 vehicle. This private company's rocket, the Gravity-1, achieved a breakthrough in commercial payload capacity records during its inaugural launch recently.

Launched from the Defu-15002 mobile sea platform in the Yellow Sea, the Gravity-1 rocket successfully reached orbit and became the first to use boosters.