China Successfully Launches Five Satellites via Lijian-1 Y13 Rocket
On Friday, CAS Space successfully launched the solid-fuel Lijian-1 Y13 carrier rocket from northwest China, deploying five satellites and marking a historic 100-satellite milestone for the rapid-response launch vehicle series.
JIUQUAN, China — Expanding its commercial aerospace footprint, China successfully launched the Lijian-1 Y13 carrier rocket on Friday, May 15, 2026, placing a constellation of five satellites into their planned orbits. The launch took place at 12:33 p.m. Beijing Time from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in the northwest region of the country. This latest mission further cements the nation’s capability to execute swift, multi-payload orbital deployments.
Advancing Commercial Space Capabilities
The Lijian-1, developed by CAS Space and also known as the Kinetica-1, is a solid-fuel carrier rocket specifically engineered for rapid-response missions. According to industry officials, the rocket relies on a universal, platform-based design. This innovative approach allows for extensive and diversified adaptation between the core rocket body and various satellite missions, significantly reducing turnaround time and launch costs.
Friday’s payload prominently featured five cutting-edge satellites, underscoring a range of technological goals. The group included the Taijing-3 05A and 05B, the Tianyi-50, the Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D55, and the highly anticipated Tianyan-27.
Spotlight on the Tianyan-27 Satellite
Among the payloads, the Tianyan-27—alternatively named Youxi—stands out due to its unique and varied instrumentation. The spacecraft is equipped with a high-resolution space display screen, a specialized space surveillance camera, an infrared optical camera, and an advanced onboard intelligent processing payload.
Mission controllers note that Tianyan-27 is slated to conduct comprehensive in-orbit verifications of novel infrared remote sensing technologies. In a nod to the growing versatility of orbital operations, it will also perform non-traditional tasks, including in-orbit display broadcasting, structural "selfie-taking," and edge-computing data processing.
A Historic Milestone for the Lijian Series
The successful May 15 mission carried historic weight for CAS Space. It marked the 13th flight of the Lijian-1 carrier rocket and the 14th overall launch for the broader Lijian family of launch vehicles. More importantly, this particular flight pushed the total number of satellites deployed by the Lijian series past the 100-satellite threshold.
To date, the total mass of payloads placed into orbit by the Lijian platform exceeds an impressive 18 tonnes. Moving forward, developers at CAS Space have announced their intent to deepen research into modular overall optimization design, while also aggressively pursuing breakthroughs in rocket recovery, reuse, and comprehensive whole-rocket health monitoring.
Editorial Takeaway
The seamless deployment of five advanced satellites via the Lijian-1 Y13 underscores an accelerating momentum within China’s commercial aerospace sector. As competitive pressures mount globally, this milestone of 100 deployed satellites is more than a numerical triumph; it signals a definitive shift toward the creation of versatile, low-cost satellite architectures that are poised to redefine the future of orbital technology and space commerce.