China’s privately‑developed Kinetica‑2 rocket lifted off on 3 November, lofting 18 Qianfan broadband satellites into low‑Earth orbit – the first time a modular launch vehicle has been used for a large‑scale constellation deployment.
Strategic Aim of the Qianfan Constellation
The Qianfan project, officially the Spacesail Constellation, is a Shanghai‑backed effort to build a global broadband network that can rival SpaceX’s Starlink. It is intended to provide worldwide internet coverage from a low‑orbit megaconstellation of more than 15 000 satellites, with an initial Phase 1 comprising 1 296 satellites.
Modular Rocket Innovation
Kinetica‑2, also known as Lijian‑2, is the first Chinese launch vehicle built around a “common booster core” (CBC) configuration. The design uses identical propellant‑fed stages that can be added or removed like building blocks, allowing the same production line to scale payload capacity from two tonnes up to 20 tonnes. The rocket stands 53 metres tall, weighs 625 tonnes at liftoff, and delivers up to eight tonnes to a 500‑km sun‑synchronous orbit or 12 tonnes to a 200‑km orbit. Its nine YF‑102 engines generate a combined thrust of 7 515 kN.
Current Deployment Progress
Satellite launches for Qianfan began in August 2024, and as of June 2026 a total of 200 satellites have reached orbit. The November 3 launch marked the 21st batch of satellites and the 18th flight of a Kinetica‑type rocket, bringing the total number of Kinetica launches to 18. With each launch carrying 18 satellites, the recent flight adds a modest step toward the 1 296‑satellite Phase 1 target, but a sizable gap remains before the 15 000‑satellite goal is reached.
Private Firms Supporting National Infrastructure
The mission demonstrates the growing role of commercial space companies in China’s national projects. CAS Space, the Guangzhou‑based developer of Kinetica‑2, has filed for an initial public offering of roughly ¥4.18 billion (about $621 million) on the STAR Market, signalling confidence in a market that now includes multiple private launch providers. The company plans a super‑factory in Zhejiang capable of producing 12 rockets per year, a capacity aimed at meeting the intensive launch demand highlighted by chief designer Yang Haoliang.
Financial and Policy Context
The Shanghai Municipal People’s Government raised 6.7 billion yuan ($943 million) to fund Qianfan’s construction, underscoring the project’s status as a strategic infrastructure priority. Yang stressed that “high‑frequency, highly reliable and low‑cost launch capacity is essential to ensuring the steady development of satellite internet infrastructure.”
What This Means for Global Broadband Competition
While Starlink already operates thousands of satellites, China’s modular rocket approach aims to reduce per‑launch costs and increase launch cadence, a factor that could accelerate Qianfan’s build‑out. If the CBC design delivers the promised economies of scale, China may close the current deployment gap more quickly than with traditional single‑core rockets.
Yang Haoliang said the next step is to continue improving the rocket’s reliability and production speed, with CAS Space’s launch manifest fully booked through the remainder of 2026.
Sources
- Qianfan
- Chinese private rocket launches 18 satellites, boosting low-orbit internet constellation
- China's CAS Space Lijian-2 Rocket Lofts 18 Satellites in First Batch Satellite-Internet Deployment Test — BigGo Finance
- China Crosses Commercial Milestone: Kinetica-2 Delivers First Qianfan Broadband Batch
- China's Modular 'Constellation' Rocket Puts 18 Satellites in Orbit on Its Second Flight – Trending on Weibo
- NASA's $10 billion Moon base deal is a ceiling, not a payout for SpaceX – Startup Fortune
Photo: Nikita Kulikov / Unsplash (Unsplash License)
