CAS Space, a commercial venture incubated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, plans the debut flight of its Lihong 2 reusable spacecraft in the first quarter of 2027. The vehicle is designed to reach an altitude of approximately 100 kilometers—the internationally recognized Karman Line—before returning to Earth for a vertical landing.
Design Specifications for the 60-Metric Ton Vehicle
The Lihong 2 measures 18 meters in length with a 3.35-meter diameter and a liftoff weight of roughly 60 metric tons. According to Wang Yingcheng, executive vice-president of CAS Space Frontier Labs, the spacecraft consists of two primary components: a booster rocket and a payload module. The booster features three self-developed 30-ton-class Liqing 1 engines fueled by liquid oxygen and kerosene. These engines are designed to support multiple restarts and thrust modulation, features essential for the rocket’s vertical landing capability.
Progress of Ground and Flight Testing
Design work for the Lihong 2 is complete, and the prototype is currently undergoing rigorous ground testing. Wang told China Daily that engineers have already finalized wind tunnel tests for both the payload module and the booster, as well as propellant retention trials. Current efforts are focused on intensive engine hot-fire tests and captive carry tests. These evaluations are intended to verify navigation, guidance, and landing control systems that will eventually be integrated into the reusable variant of the company’s Kinetica 2 rocket model.
Join us for the maiden flight of Li Hong 2 this October! pic.twitter.com/3kQI1Bwgzx
Experiments and In-Space Manufacturing Goals
The maiden flight will carry a variety of payloads to test in-space operations, including intelligent robots and space medicines. Wang described the Lihong 2 as a platform for "space utilization," moving beyond basic transportation to support manufacturing. This includes developing special drug crystals, ecological agriculture through space crop breeding, and creating "space factories."
Data from the U.S.-based consulting firm Future Market Insights, released in May 2025, projects that the global in-space manufacturing market will grow from $6.3 billion in 2025 to $46.8 billion by 2036, representing a compound annual growth rate of 20 percent.
Timeline for the Lihong 3 Development
CAS Space is simultaneously working on a successor, the Lihong 3. Unlike the Lihong 2, which focuses on short-term experimental flights, the Lihong 3 is designed for long-duration missions. It is intended to remain in orbit for up to one year, providing a microgravity environment for at least 300 kilograms of manufacturing payloads. Its debut flight and in-orbit verification are scheduled for 2028.
Technical Questions Regarding Reusable Spacecraft
What is the passenger capacity of the Lihong 2?
The spacecraft has a design capacity to carry at least 3 tons of cargo or up to seven passengers per flight.
Why is the 100-km altitude target significant?
Reaching the 100-km Karman Line allows the company to verify its recovery technologies at the edge of Earth’s atmosphere, providing the necessary data to refine rocket engine restarts and landing control before attempting more complex missions.
How does the Lihong 3 differ from the Lihong 2?
While the Lihong 2 is a platform for testing rocket recovery and short-duration experiments, the Lihong 3 is built for long-duration, in-orbit scientific experiments and space-based manufacturing, with the capacity to stay in space for up to one year.