CAS Space

CAS Space (Guangzhou Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology, branded Zhongke Yuhang) is a Chinese commercial launch provider founded in 2018 and led by CEO Yang Yiqiang. The company was incubated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and its Institute of Mechanics, which remains its majority backer, and is headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong.

Its flagship is the Kinetica family (also rendered as Lijian or ZK). Kinetica-1, a four-stage solid-fueled small launcher, is the company's commercial workhorse for placing satellites into sun-synchronous orbit. CAS Space has since developed Kinetica-2, a larger reusable liquid-fueled rocket aimed at higher payload mass and lower cost-per-kilogram.

As of 2026 CAS Space is active and scaling, with a string of successful Kinetica-1 missions since 2022 and the successful maiden flight of the reusable Kinetica-2 on 30 March 2026. The company is expanding production capacity and pursuing reusable launch and spacecraft programs.