Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd. is the first domestic aerospace enterprise with mixed ownership, and it is also the target enterprise that Oriental Aerospace Port focuses on introducing. Relying on the scientific research strength and resource advantages of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Aerospace Flight Technology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Aerospace Science and Technology has been committed to the research and development and integration of space technology and aerospace vehicles as a platform for the transformation of major national scientific research projects, as well as the transformation and provision of technological achievements. Aerospace launch service. The Lijian-1 rocket project also adds a brand-new name card to the Oriental Space Port, which will surely promote the construction of the Oriental Space Port to take a solid step forward.
China, People’s Republic of China. Successfully Launches 5 Satellites in One Launch At 12:33 PM Beijing time on May 15, 2026, the Zhongke Aerospace Lijian-1 Y13 carrier rocket carrying the “Youxi” satellite was launched from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone. Using a “one rocket, five satellites” approach, it accurately sent five satellites, including the “Youxi” satellite, into their predetermined orbits. The launch mission was a complete success.
This mission marked the 13th flight of the Lijian-1 carrier rocket and the 14th launch of the Lijian series of carrier rockets. To date, a total of 100 satellites have been successfully sent into space, with a total payload mass exceeding 18 tons. China maintains its leading market share in the commercial rocket launch service market.
Carrier Rockets Achieve Milestone of 100 Satellite Launches] At 12:33 PM Beijing time on May 15, 2026, China successfully launched five satellites—Taijing-3 05A/05B, Tianyi-50, Tianyan-27, and Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D55—using the LiJian-1 Y13 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone. The satellites successfully entered their predetermined orbits, and the launch mission was a complete success. This mission marked the 13th flight of the LiJian-1 carrier rocket.
The Lijian 1 Y13 carrier rocket has completed final assembly and testing and successfully passed factory acceptance. It is scheduled to launch five satellites in one launch from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone in the near future . Among the satellites carried by the rocket is “Dianjian-1,” China’s first dedicated energy engineering satellite, which will be used to monitor millimeter-level displacements in hydropower projects, enhancing the full-lifecycle safety management capabilities of energy infrastructure. This mission signifies that the CAS Aerospace Industrialization Base has achieved pulsed, high-efficiency production capabilities, and its mass production and rapid delivery capabilities for rockets are continuously improving
. Latest Mission Progress and Launch Plan
- The Lijian 1
Lijian 1 yao13 rocket, which is in its final assembly and testing phase at the CAS Space Industrialization Base, has successfully passed the factory acceptance review and is now ready for launch. - Launch mission details
- Time and location : The launch is planned for the near future at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone in Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia
- Mission Mode : The mission will employ a “one rocket, five satellites” approach, sending five satellites into their designated orbits. The first dedicated energy engineering satellite, “Dianjian-1,” will be launched as one of the payloads. Weighing approximately 300 kg, this satellite is equipped with an X-band synthetic aperture radar capable of monitoring millimeter-level displacements of the Earth’s surface and energy infrastructure.
II. Rocket Technology Characteristics and Innovative Breakthroughs
- The launch efficiency advantage
continues the “three horizontal and one vertical” (horizontal assembly, horizontal testing, horizontal transportation, and rapid docking and erection) launch mode of the Liji series. Technical factory preparation takes only 7 days, and it can be launched within 5 hours after transportation, with hourly emergency response capability. - Cost and capacity optimization
- Low cost : Through optimized design, launch costs have been reduced to approximately 60,000 yuan per kilogram, significantly lowering the barrier for small and medium-sized satellites to enter space.2
- High production capacity : Relying on the pulsed production line, the rocket assembly cycle is shortened to 1 month, with an annual production capacity of over 10 rockets, which can be increased to 30 rockets in the future..
- The reliability verification
mission, the 13th flight mission of the Lijian-1 series, demonstrated the rocket’s high reliability and strong performance capability, with a 100% success rate in the previous 12 missions, which have sent a total of 92 satellites into space with a total mass of over 12 tons into orbit.
III. Industrial and Strategic Significance
- This mission marks the achievement
of CAS Space’s independent production of rocket modules throughout the entire process, with production capacity continuously ramping up, propelling China’s commercial space industry towards high-density, scheduled launches.36 - With enhanced international competitiveness,
the Lijian-1 rocket has secured satellite launch orders from multiple countries (such as Mexico and the Middle East). Its low cost and rapid response capabilities have solidified China’s global position in the small and medium-sized satellite launch market. Future plans include expanding its maritime launch capabilities to accommodate more orbital requirements.
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