At 12:12 on 27 July 2022, the ZK-1A launch vehicle, developed by the Institute of Mechanics , Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Institute of Mechanics of the CAS), was successfully launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, successfully placing six satellites into the scheduled orbit by means of "one arrow and six stars", making the first mission of the ZK-1A launch vehicle a complete success. As the preferred choice for small and medium-sized satellite launches, it has enriched the spectrum of China's solid launch vehicle launch capability.
V Fund invested in CAS SPACE in April 2019 as an early shareholder of the company and is confident that the company will become a leader in commercial spaceflight in China.
CAS SPACE
"Supported by the 14th Five-Year Plan of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the "ZK-1A" launch vehicle is another innovative attempt of CAS in the field of space science and technology. Facing the development needs of space science and space technology, guided by the idea of "engineering science", with innovative, advanced and efficient design ideas, the development of innovative, advanced and economical launch vehicles is of great significance to promote the change and innovation of China's launch technology and development mode, and to promote the development of space science.
The "ZK-1A" launch vehicle, the first solid launch vehicle developed by the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences with the participation of CAS SPACE, is the largest solid launch vehicle in China at present, and has entered the advanced ranks of the world's solid launch vehicles in terms of carrying capacity, accuracy in orbit, design reliability and cost performance. The rocket is a four-stage solid launch vehicle with a take-off weight of 135 tons, a take-off thrust of 200 tons, an overall length of 30 meters, a core stage diameter of 2.65 meters, a fairing diameter of 2.65 meters in the first flight state and a 500km sun-synchronous orbit capacity of 1,500kg.
It is reported that during the development of the "ZK-1A" launch vehicle, the relevant institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Fourth Academy of the Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation jointly launched a scientific research mission, adhering to the design concept of "innovation for limitless times". The research team has made breakthroughs in a number of key technologies, including the overall optimized design and test technology of large-tonnage solid rocket, advanced power system and thrust vector control technology, centralized-distributed modern aerospace electronics technology, low-cost arrow structure and separation technology, intelligent flight control technology, ground use of large-tonnage solid rocket and thermal launch technology. The innovation of the research paradigm has enabled high-performance and low-cost agile development, making an important contribution to the technological change in the field of China's launch vehicles.
The "ZK-1A" launch vehicle has a series of outstanding advantages, such as large launch capacity, high accuracy in orbit, high inherent reliability, fast response time, high launch efficiency, low security requirements, low launch cost, flexible and convenient use, good environmental adaptability, etc. It is suitable for medium/low orbit low-cost rapid network launch of medium/small satellite payloads.
The mission will carry six satellites, namely the New Space Technology Test Satellite, the Orbital Atmospheric Density Detection Test Satellite, the Low Orbit Quantum Key Distribution Test Satellite, the Electromagnetic Assembly Test Double Star by Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Nan Yue Science Satellite developed by the Shanghai SastSpace Technology Co., Ltd. The New Space Technology Test Satellite is a versatile, scalable and fast-responding new space technology test satellite platform that will carry out experiments on new space science payloads.