CAS Space’s Kinetica-2 rocket on the launch pad at the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone, Jiuquan, ahead of its maiden flight in March 2026. Credit: CAS Space
HELSINKI — China is expanding the role of its commercial rocket companies by shortlisting four such entities for launches of a new space station cargo transport system.
Launch firms Galactic Energy, CAS Space, OrienSpace and Landspace were shortlisted to launch the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft, following the launch of a prototype of the supply vessel March 30. The four were named in a public notice posted to China’s national tendering platform June 5, with the notice period closing June 9. The notice does not indicate the selection of a final provider.
The full scale Qingzhou cargo spacecraft is tentatively scheduled for launch in January 2027, subject to the final launch window, according to the tender information. The mission is intended to dock at Tiangong to provide supplies for the first time.
Qingzhou is developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAMCAS), and is one of two low-cost space station resupply spacecraft being developed under a program initiated by China’s human spaceflight agency, CMSEO, to support Tiangong. The prototype completed rendezvous tests in April.
