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Kuaizhou-11 rocket successfully launches Weili Space-05 satellites
💡Key aerospace update on rapid-response launch vehicles, relevant for satellite-based AI infrastructure.
⚡ 30-Second TL;DR
What Changed
Successfully delivered the Weili Space-05 satellite group to the designated orbit.
Why It Matters
The continued success of the Kuaizhou series strengthens China's rapid space response capabilities, providing a reliable platform for deploying small satellite constellations.
What To Do Next
Monitor the orbital data of the Weili Space-05 satellites if you are working on satellite-based AI or edge computing applications.
Who should care:Developers & AI Engineers
🧠 Deep Insight
Web-grounded analysis with 16 cited sources.
🔑 Enhanced Key Takeaways
- •The Kuaizhou-11 (KZ-11) rocket is developed by ExPace, a commercial subsidiary of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).
- •The rocket's maiden flight on July 10, 2020, resulted in a failure, but it successfully achieved orbit during its second flight on December 7, 2022, after a two-year grounding and testing phase.
- •Standing 25 meters tall with a main body diameter of 2.2 meters and a liftoff mass of 78 metric tons, the Kuaizhou-11 is designed to place a 1,500 kg payload into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or a 1,000 kg payload into a 700-kilometer Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
- •The Kuaizhou-11 is a three-stage solid-propellant rocket, with its first stage uniquely configured with four aerodynamic grid rudders for enhanced steering and stability during flight.
- •Known for its low launch costs, the Kuaizhou-11 is reported to offer a price of less than $10,000 per kilogram of payload, making it highly competitive in the international market for small-lift launch vehicles.
📊 Competitor Analysis▸ Show
| Feature/Rocket | Kuaizhou-11 (KZ-11) | Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) | Jielong-3 (Smart Dragon-3) | Long March-11 (LM-11) | Rocket Lab Electron | Firefly Alpha | Minotaur IV (US-made) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | ExPace (CASIC) | ExPace (CASIC) | China Rocket (CASC) | CASC | Rocket Lab | Firefly Aerospace | Northrop Grumman |
| Payload to SSO (700km) | 1,000 kg | 200 kg | 1,500 kg (to 500km SSO) | 350 kg | ~300 kg (to 500km SSO) | ~630 kg (to 500km SSO) | ~1,720 kg (to LEO) |
| Cost per kg | < $10,000 | < $20,000 | ~$10,000 | ~$10,000 | ~$23,000 | ~$20,000 | ~$30,000 |
| Propellant | Solid | Solid (3 stages), Liquid (4th) | Solid | Solid | Liquid | Liquid | Solid |
| Stages | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Mobile Launch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
🛠️ Technical Deep Dive
- Developer: ExPace, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).
- Type: Three-stage solid-propellant rocket.
- Height: Approximately 25 meters.
- Diameter: 2.2 meters (main body), with a payload fairing diameter of up to 2.65 meters.
- Gross Liftoff Mass: Approximately 78 metric tons.
- Payload Capacity: 1,500 kilograms to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 1,000 kilograms to a 700-kilometer Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
- First Stage Features: Equipped with four aerodynamic grid rudders for steering and stability during the initial phase of flight.
- Launch Method: Operates primarily from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) vehicle, eliminating the need for a traditional fixed launch pad and enabling brief launch preparation windows.
- Origin: The Kuaizhou series of rockets is based on CASIC's anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) and ballistic missile defense (BMD) mid-course interceptor rockets, specifically drawing from the DF-21 Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).
- Development: Research and development for the Kuaizhou-11 began in 2015 at China Space Sanjiang Group, a CASIC subsidiary.
- Technological Advancements: Engineers utilized 3D printing technology to overcome difficulties in developing a new liquid-propellant, position-control propulsion system for the rocket.
🔮 Future ImplicationsAI analysis grounded in cited sources
Increased accessibility to space for commercial entities.
The Kuaizhou-11's competitive low cost and rapid response capabilities make orbital insertion more feasible for a wider range of commercial satellite developers and operators, fostering growth in the commercial space sector.
Enhanced national rapid space response capabilities.
The rocket's design for quick integration and mobile launch allows for rapid deployment of satellites in emergencies, for disaster monitoring, or to replace damaged space infrastructure, bolstering national security and resilience.
Strengthening China's position in the global commercial space market.
With its robust performance for small-to-medium payloads and attractive pricing, the Kuaizhou-11 is poised to attract both domestic and international clients, despite existing export restrictions, thereby expanding China's influence in the global space industry.
⏳ Timeline
2009
Development of the Kuaizhou launch vehicle series began.
2013-09
Maiden flight of the Kuaizhou-1, a predecessor to the KZ-11.
2015
Research and development of the Kuaizhou-11 rocket commenced at China Space Sanjiang Group.
2020-07-10
The Kuaizhou-11's maiden flight ended in failure due to a malfunction.
2022-12-07
The Kuaizhou-11 successfully achieved orbit during its second flight, marking its return to service after a two-year grounding.
2026-03-16
The Kuaizhou-11 Y7 completed its fifth flight, successfully placing eight satellites into orbit.
📎 Sources (16)
Factual claims are grounded in the sources below. Forward-looking analysis is AI-generated interpretation.
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Original source: IT之家 ↗