Kinetica 1 Launch: July 24, 2026 Time & How to Watch

A Kinetica 1 solid-fuel rocket operated by CAS Space is scheduled to launch an unspecified payload on July 24, 2026, at 02:00 UTC from Launch Area 130 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the People's Republic of China. The mission's status is currently listed as To Be Confirmed (TBC), meaning the date and time may still shift.

What is Kinetica 1?

Kinetica 1 (also known as Lijian-1 or ZK-1) is a four-stage solid-propellant orbital launch vehicle developed by CAS Space, a commercial spin-off of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Standing about 30 meters tall with a diameter of 2.65 meters, it is one of China's most powerful solid rockets, capable of delivering roughly 1,500 kilograms to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. Its solid-fuel design allows rapid integration and short turnaround between missions, making it well suited to deploying batches of small satellites.

When is the launch?

The launch is targeted for 02:00 UTC on Friday, July 24, 2026. That corresponds to 10:00 a.m. local time in China (CST, UTC+8). Because the mission carries a TBC status, the exact liftoff time could move; check the rocket launch schedule on Cosmik for the latest confirmed window.

What is the payload?

The payload for this flight has not been publicly disclosed. Kinetica 1 has historically carried clusters of small commercial and scientific satellites, including Earth-observation, remote-sensing, and technology-demonstration spacecraft, often flying multiple satellites on a single mission. Until CAS Space or Chinese state media confirm the manifest, the specific satellites, their mass, and their target orbit remain unconfirmed. We will update this preview on the latest launch news page as details emerge.

Where is it launching from?

Liftoff will occur from Launch Area 130 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in the Gobi Desert in northwestern China. Jiuquan is China's oldest and busiest launch complex, operational since 1958, and serves as the primary site for both crewed Shenzhou missions and a growing number of commercial solid-rocket flights. Its inland location and range azimuths make it a common choice for sun-synchronous and polar orbital insertions.

How to watch live

CAS Space and Chinese launch providers do not always offer a public English-language livestream for commercial Kinetica 1 flights. When coverage is available, it typically appears through Chinese state media channels shortly before liftoff. Regardless of whether a video feed is provided, you can follow the countdown and track the vehicle's trajectory in real time on Cosmik:

• Open the live 3D solar-system and satellite map to visualize orbits as they populate.
• Watch the countdown clock and mission card on the launch tracker.
• Once satellites are deployed, follow them with our satellite-tracking guide.

Why does this launch matter?

Kinetica 1 represents the rise of China's commercial launch sector, which has expanded rapidly as private and quasi-private firms compete to loft small satellites for the country's growing constellations. Each Kinetica 1 flight adds to CAS Space's cadence and demonstrates the maturity of solid-propellant vehicles for responsive, low-cost access to orbit. With a payload capacity of around 1,500 kilograms to SSO, the vehicle sits in a competitive class alongside other emerging small-lift rockets worldwide.

Key facts at a glance

• Rocket: Kinetica 1, a four-stage solid-fuel launcher standing ~30 meters tall.
• Capacity: Approximately 1,500 kg to a 500 km sun-synchronous orbit.
• Launch date: July 24, 2026, at 02:00 UTC (10:00 a.m. local).
• Site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, one of China's four national spaceports.

Launch data for this preview is sourced from The Space Devs Launch Library. Background on the vehicle and site draws on Kinetica 1 and the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

Follow the launch live on Cosmik

Track the Kinetica 1 countdown, watch its payload reach orbit, and follow the deployed satellites on our live 3D map. Enable free launch alerts on Cosmik so you never miss liftoff, and browse the full upcoming launch schedule for what's next.