BEIJING, July 10 — A state-owned giant that most people outside China have never heard of is quietly building the hardware that could reshape the global launch market. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, or CASC, is the primary contractor for Beijing’s space programme. It was founded in 1999 and now employs more than 170,000 people.
In 2023 it reported revenue of $50 billion. These are not small numbers.
And the corporation’s latest project — the Long March 10B rocket — has just passed a major milestone with a successful recovery test, overseen by China National Space Administration Administrator Zhang Kejian, who has led the agency since 2018.
The engine and the architecture
The Long March 10B is a reusable rocket. The vehicle is powered by the YF-100K engine, developed by the Academy of Aerospace Liquid Propulsion Technology, a CASC subsidiary. CASC’s reusable rocket programme is part of a broader strategy to reduce launch costs and maintain China’s competitive edge in the global space market.
The corporation already manufactures the Long March 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 rocket families.
The designers and the competition
The Long March 10 series was designed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, or CALT, which is one of CASC’s major subsidiaries. The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, or SAST, another CASC subsidiary, produces satellite components that fly on these rockets. But CASC does not have the Chinese launch market to itself.
Private firms like iSpace and Galactic Energy have conducted successful orbital launches in recent years. CASC’s response has been to accelerate its own reusable programme.
The corporation plans to develop a fully reusable two-stage-to-orbit rocket by 2030.
What the recovery test means
The successful recovery of the Long March 10B is a validation of the landing technology. The YF-100K engine’s ability to throttle down and relight in flight is the critical piece. The fact that Administrator Zhang Kejian personally oversaw the operation suggests it was a high-priority event.
The next milestone will be an orbital test of the Long March 10B, likely carrying a payload. If that succeeds, CASC will move toward operational flights.
The 2030 target for a fully reusable two-stage-to-orbit vehicle is ambitious, but the corporation has a track record of meeting its deadlines. CASC’s challenge is not just technical. It must also compete with private Chinese firms that are leaner and faster. iSpace and Galactic Energy are both planning their own reusable rockets.
But CASC has the resources — 170,000 employees and $50 billion in revenue — and the political backing. The race to build China’s first fully reusable rocket is on, and the Long March 10B is the current frontrunner.
