China’s Kinetica-2 rocket debuts successfully, sending prototype cargo spacecraft to orbit

HELSINKI — Chinese firm CAS Space successfully reached orbit with the first launch of its Kinetica-2 launch vehicle Monday, with a prototype cargo spacecraft among the payloads.

The Kinetica-2 (Lijian-2) lifted off at 7:00 a.m. Eastern (1100 UTC) March 30 from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. CAS Space declared the mission a complete success, stating that the flight "served the country's major strategies and major engineering projects.

Airspace closure notices suggest a possible first flight of the Tianlong-3 April 2 from Jiuquan by commercial launch firm Space Pioneer. If confirmed, the launch attempt will come almost two years after a near-disastrous first stage static fire test that climbed from its test facilities and crashed into a mountainside.