China CAS Space Lijian-1 Y13 Rocket Launch of Five Satellites

China CAS Space Lijian-1 Y13 Rocket Launch of Five Satellites

China on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 12:33 p.m. (Beijing Time), launched a Lijian1 Y13 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, delivering five satellites, including Taijing-3 05A/05B, Tianyi-50, Tianyan-27, and Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D55 into their planned orbits.

The Lijian-1 rocket was developed by CAS Space, a commercial firm established by the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The rocket serves the small satellite launch market, offering dedicated launches for single customers and rideshare missions.

The mission marked the 13th flight of the Lijian-1 carrier rocket and the 14th launch of the Lijian series. To date, the Lijian series has successfully sent a total of 100 satellites into space with the total mass of payloads placed into orbit exceeding 18 tonnes. 

The Lijian-1, developed by CAS Space, is a solid-fuel carrier rocket featuring rapid-response capabilities. It adopts a universal platform-based design, enabling diversified adaptation between the rocket body and satellite missions, according to the company.  

The Tianyan-27 satellite, also known as Youxi, launched in this mission, is equipped with a space display screen, a space surveillance camera, an infrared camera and an onboard intelligent processing payload.  

It will conduct in-orbit verification of new infrared remote sensing technologies, as well as missions including in-orbit display and selfie-taking, and intelligent data processing.  

CAS Space said it will continue to deepen work in key areas such as modular overall optimization design, rocket recovery and reuse, plus rocket health monitoring and maintenance.

CAS Space is a Chinese commercial space launch provider based in Guangzhou, capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. CAS Space was founded in 2018 and is majority owned by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Image Credit: CAS Space
Text Credits: Xinhua, CGTN
Date: May 15, 2026

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