Kinetica-1 (Lijian-1)

Overview

Four-stage solid-propellant small/medium-lift launch vehicle developed by a team with Long March 11 heritage - one of China's most-flown commercial rockets.

Operational from Jiuquan and Dongfeng since 2022 with 16 launches and 15 successes (one December 2024 failure). Y18 flew nine satellites from Dongfeng at 12:03 Beijing time on 20 September 2026. Y17 completed a first sea-launch shipboard rehearsal on 25 August 2026 and remained unflown as of 5 October 2026; the Y18 mission article still described that three-satellite maritime flight as about to depart.

Key Specs

Payload to LEO

2,000 kg

Payload to SSO

1,500 kg (500 km)

Height

30 m

Diameter

2.65 m

Liftoff Mass

135 t

Propellant

Solid (4 stages)

Launch Record

16 launches, 15 successes (last flight Y18, 20 September 2026)

First Flight

Jul 27, 2022 (success)