CAS Space, a leading Chinese commercial space company, has completed a comprehensive series of propulsion system tests for its Kinastra 1 upper stage, clearing a major milestone toward the vehicle’s maiden flight, scheduled for the first quarter of next year.

The Guangzhou-headquartered company, established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), reported that the Kinastra 1’s 20-kilonewton engine successfully passed boundary-condition tests in March. These trials covered variable operating modes, mixture ratios, and cooling percentages, involving 18 ignitions and a total burn time of 481 seconds.

A subsequent reliability test in July saw the engine operate for a combined 2,906 seconds across multiple scenarios. In August, the upper stage’s full propulsion system completed its PV-001 integrated compatibility hot-fire test — a major system-level milestone that verified coordination and operational reliability among all subsystems. That test lasted 566 seconds, with stable performance recorded across all units.

According to CAS Space, the recent test campaign comprehensively validated the engine’s pressurization, propellant feed, propellant management, and servo control systems. Engineers also confirmed three critical capabilities: the 20-kilonewton engine’s high-thrust, high-performance multi-restart functionality; balanced propellant delivery from parallel tanks; and a highly reliable integrated electrical design.

The 20-kilonewton engine has accumulated 5,211 seconds of total ignition time, the company added.

Described by engineers as a modular “space shuttle bus,” the Kinastra 1 is equipped with an engine capable of more than 20 ignitions. It can autonomously plan orbital transfer paths, withstand the vacuum and extreme temperature fluctuations of spaceflight, and be adapted to various launch vehicles.

The Kinastra 1 is expected to become a key component of CAS Space’s medium- and high-orbit and deep-space launch capabilities.

CAS Space currently operates two rocket models — the Kinetica 1 and Kinetica 2. To date, the Kinetica 1 has completed 15 launch missions, delivering a total of 110 satellites into orbit.(SD-Agencies)