Tag: CASC
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Commercial, Industrial, Standard Military and Space: What These Component Labels Mean, and Where CAST and SAST Parts Lists Fit In
A supplier describes a chip as “space grade.” A procurement specialist wants to know whether it appears on an approved-parts list. At a program review, an engineer asks a different question: Can the device meet mission requirements in this particular circuit position? These questions may sound repetitive, but they are not asking the same thing.…
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China Launches Four Rockets in 45 Hours as Broadband Constellation Deployment Accelerates
China completed four orbital launches with four different rockets in just over 44 hours between September 15 and 17, 2026, deploying satellites from Jiuquan, an offshore platform east of Shanghai, and the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. The sequence involved two commercially developed launch vehicles and two rockets operated by state-owned groups, highlighting the growing…
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Long March 12 Successfully Launches the 25th Group of Low Earth Orbit Internet Satellites
At 8:32 a.m. Beijing time on September 17, 2026, China launched the 25th group of low Earth orbit satellite internet spacecraft aboard a Long March 12 rocket from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. The satellites entered their planned orbit, completing the mission successfully. Developed under the leadership of the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace…
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Decoding the Six Reusable Rockets Successfully Recovered Worldwide
Rocket recovery has evolved from an experimental concept into one of the defining capabilities of modern launch vehicles. By returning and potentially reusing major rocket stages, launch providers aim to reduce costs, shorten turnaround times and support a higher launch cadence. To date, six orbital-class launch vehicles worldwide—Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Starship, New Glenn, Long…
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How China Is Expanding Space Product Manufacturing Capacity: Inside the Smart Factory Upgrade at the Shanghai Institute of Spaceflight Control Technology
China’s satellite manufacturing capacity is expanding at an unprecedented pace, driven by the rapid development of commercial spaceflight and large-scale constellation deployment. But how are Chinese space manufacturers increasing output while maintaining the stringent quality standards required for orbital missions? A look inside this upgraded smart factory reveals how digital twins, AI-powered inspection, flexible production…
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China’s Butuo County Deploys Satellite Remote Sensing and Low-Altitude Drones for Agriculture and Governance
Across China, satellite remote sensing and low-altitude drones are increasingly being deployed in rural agriculture. From monitoring crop growth and identifying pests and diseases to conducting precision spraying and assessing natural-disaster risks, the integration of space-based and aerial technologies is helping improve agricultural productivity, reduce labor costs and modernize rural governance. Butuo County in Sichuan…
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In-Depth Look at the Long March 10B Launch Vehicle
I. Basic Information The Long March 10B is a large, reusable commercial liquid-propellant launch vehicle with a diameter of 5 meters. The rocket was developed under the overall responsibility of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). The project was formally approved on July 3, 2025, entered the engineering development phase in December 2025,…
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What Are the “National Team” Forces in China’s Satellite Laser Communication Field?
Satellite laser communication is a communication technology that uses laser light as an information carrier and free space as a transmission channel to establish high-speed data links between satellites, or between satellites and the ground. Compared to traditional microwave communication, laser communication boasts significant advantages—such as large bandwidth, high transmission rates, strong anti-interference capabilities, and…
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Lightning Hit Long March-3B 30 Seconds After Liftoff
Did the Long March-3B Survive a Lightning Strike at Liftoff? A Long March-3B rocket absorbed a lightning strike approximately 30 seconds after liftoff from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center on July 23, 2026 — and still delivered its payload to geostationary orbit (GEO) as planned. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed the…
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China’s Long March 10B Nails First Net Catch at Sea
Is China’s Net-Catch Booster Recovery a Viable Third Architecture? China’s state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) recovered an orbital-class booster for the first time on July 11, 2026, catching the Long March 10B first stage in a tensioned cable net mounted to an offshore vessel — a recovery method distinct from both SpaceX’s…