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.
First Sea Launch! LiJian-1 Y17 Carrier Rocket Successfully Rolls Out of Factory… On August 13, 2026, the LiJian-1 Y17 carrier rocket successfully completed its final assembly and testing at the CAS Aerospace Industrialization Base and passed the factory acceptance review. It is scheduled to launch three satellites in one launch from the waters near Guangdong in the near future.
The countdown has begun for CAS Space’s first sea-based launch mission, with the LiJian-1 carrier rocket launch support system completing key verifications. LiJian1
The countdown begins for the maiden sea launch of the LiJian-1 carrier rocket! On August 25th, CAS Aerospace successfully completed a joint launch and ground-launch rehearsal for the LiJian-1 carrier rocket. This rehearsal simulated the entire launch day process, conducting over ten tests including launch pad erection, moving base self-alignment, and anti-tipping device control. It achieved closed-loop verification of the entire launch support system, demonstrating the complete mission flow from land-sea transport to long-range sea launch, marking the official start of the countdown to the LiJian-1 carrier rocket’s maiden sea launch.
For the sea launch scenario, CAS Aerospace verified the application capabilities of various innovative solutions. In this rehearsal, CAS Aerospace’s self-developed highly integrated sea launch pad was used for the first time in a live-fire exercise. This equipment is the world’s first integrated launch pad for a 100-ton-class solid rocket. Relying on a single set of fully functional equipment, the entire chain of rocket transportation, rapid erection, and docking can be completed in a closed loop. Notably, the launch pad erection and leveling time is only 120 seconds, and the entire transportation to launch process takes as little as 48 hours. This effectively streamlines the maritime launch mission chain, shortens the overall operation cycle, and significantly reduces the transportation and engineering implementation costs of maritime launches. It provides strong support for the high-frequency, fast-response, and low-cost launch requirements in constellation networking and satellite replenishment scenarios.
To cope with the harsh environmental challenges of high salt spray corrosion at sea, CAS Aerospace innovatively adopted an air-supported membrane mobile insulated workshop, creating a robust protective “golden shield” for the rocket. Compared to traditional steel structure workshops, this air-supported membrane workshop offers superior sealing and protection performance, increases insulation capacity by 100%, reduces weight by more than two-thirds, and lowers overall costs by approximately 80%. Long-distance transportation, installation, and commissioning can be completed within 48 hours. It effectively blocks salt spray penetration and corrosion, ensuring the safety and stability of precision equipment on the rocket. It is better adapted to complex maritime operating scenarios, comprehensively improving the overall application benefits of maritime launch missions.
Because sea conditions cause ship swaying during launches, achieving precise rocket orbit insertion is as difficult as “performing surgery on a bumpy carriage.” To ensure a “bullseye” launch and guarantee rocket orbit insertion accuracy, CAS Aerospace innovatively adopted a moving base self-alignment technology. Supported by its independently developed high-precision self-alignment algorithm and flight control software, it can complete initial attitude alignment in as little as 30 minutes, achieving industry-leading algorithm accuracy.
Simultaneously, CAS Aerospace also applied a newly developed anti-tipping device, innovatively employing a “passive unlocking” mode to quickly tilt backward and reduce rocket takeoff drift. This design effectively avoids the risk of unlocking failure due to control malfunction, comprehensively enhancing the safety redundancy of sea-based launch missions.
The Lijian-1 carrier rocket will undertake CAS Aerospace’s first-ever sea-based launch mission, completing a “one rocket, three satellites” launch mission in the waters near Guangdong
I. What is the LiJian-1 Y17 Carrier Rocket ?
- Identity and positioning : The solid-propellant launch vehicle developed by CAS Space Technology is the largest solid-propellant launch vehicle currently in service in China, mainly used for the rapid networking launch of microsatellites and low-to-medium orbits.
- Key achievements : To date, it has launched 15 times, successfully sending 110 satellites into space, with a total payload mass exceeding 16 tons. It is the only civilian-commercial rocket model in China to have launched more than 100 satellites.
- Industry position : It has secured all orders in China’s civil and commercial rocket launch market, and has fully entered a new cycle driven by market demand after technology verification
II. Current Hottest Developments: First Sea Launch
- Latest milestone : On August 25, the Lijian-1 completed a joint launch and ground training exercise at sea, simulating all aspects of the launch day and conducting more than ten tests, including launch pad erection, self-alignment of the moving base, and control of the anti-tipping device.
- Mission Arrangement : The Y17 rocket is scheduled to carry out a “one rocket, three satellites” mission in the waters near Guangdong in the near future. It successfully passed the factory review on August 13
- Technical preparation : The air-supported membrane mobile insulated factory building is used to cope with the high salt spray environment, which improves the heat preservation capacity by 100% and reduces the weight by more than two-thirds; the self-developed moving base self-alignment algorithm can complete the initial attitude alignment in as little as 30 minutes
III. Subsequent Launch Plan
- Dual-track approach : Constructing a parallel pattern of “monthly scheduled launches on land and mobile special launches at sea”, with land as the main approach and sea as the supplementary approach
- Schedule for the second half of 2026 : Remote launch of satellite 18 (September, 2 satellites launched), Remote launch of satellite 16 (October, 9 satellites launched), Remote launch of satellite 19 (November, 8 satellites launched), Remote launch of satellite 20 (December, 8 satellites launched).9
- Launch schedule : In 2026, “launches every month” has been achieved, and the total number of launches throughout the year will be significantly higher than the five launches in 2025. The Y17 launch is the fifth launch of the year.
IMAGES AND VISUALS ARE FROM THEIR RESPECTIVES.