CAS Space Reduces Rocket Assembly Time to 15 Days
China's CAS Space has shortened the assembly cycle for its 'Lijian-1' launch vehicle from approximately three months to about 15 days. This efficiency gain supports a target of monthly launches and a six-month order-to-launch window.
Chinese space technology firm CAS Space (中科宇航) has significantly streamlined the assembly process for its 'Lijian-1' (力箭一号) launch vehicle, reducing the assembly time from around three months to approximately 15 days. This acceleration is crucial as the company moves towards a phase of high-density, routine launches, aiming for missions on a near-monthly basis.
The increased assembly speed underpins the company's goal to compress the entire cycle from order placement to launch to under six months. CAS Space's Nansha assembly plant now has an annual production capacity of 30 rockets. The company attributes the efficiency gains to changes in production organization, allowing for parallel processing across different stages rather than a sequential approach.
This shift marks a transition from "production per mission" to advance preparation and batch production for commercial rockets. The CEO of CAS Space indicated that this move aligns with the growing demand for space transportation services, driven by an increasing number of satellites requiring launch. Rockets are described as the "vehicles" for these "passengers" heading into space.
The focus on industrialized production and regular launch cadence for commercial rockets is seen as the primary path to meet the escalating demands of space access. This development allows for more stable and scalable space transportation services.