China's CAS Space achieves milestone with 15-satellite launch, including Oman's first
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 12, 2024
Beijing-headquartered CAS Space, an affiliate of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, successfully launched 15 satellites on Monday, including Oman's first satellite, marking a significant achievement for China's commercial space sector in international partnerships.

The Kinetica 1-Y5 rocket took off at 12:03 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, according to CAS Space. This mission represents the fifth launch in the Kinetica 1 series, which began in July 2022. The rocket, 30 meters in height and weighing 135 metric tons, has a maximum payload capacity of 1.5 tons to sun-synchronous orbit approximately 500 kilometers above the Earth.

The notable inclusion in this launch was the IRSS-1 satellite, produced by the China Academy of Space Technology, part of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, for Oman Lens, a company pioneering space technology in Oman. IRSS-1 aims to support Oman in data acquisition and imaging for applications such as land surveying, urban development, forestry management, and disaster response.

CAS Space enhanced the Kinetica 1 rocket's payload fairing for this mission, increasing its diameter from 2.65 to 3.35 meters to facilitate the accommodation of all 15 satellites. This advancement reflects the rocket's growing versatility, with the series having successfully deployed 57 satellites in total since its initial launch, maintaining an unblemished success record.

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