(cache) Kaituozhe 1 (KT-1) Launch Vehicle

Kaituozhe 1 (KT-1) Launch Vehicle

The Kaituozhe 1 (KT-1) series solid-propellant launch vehicle (LV) has been developed by the Space Solid Fuel Rocket Carrier Co. Ltd. since 2000. Allegedly based on China’s second-generation, solid-propellant ballistic missile technology, the KaiTuoZhe series was designed to provide a small-orbital launcher that can be launched from anywhere without complex fuelling and launch facilities required by conventional ChangZheng (Long March) series liquid-propellant LVs. The basic variant KT-1 is capable of placing up to 50kg payload into 600km low earth orbits (LEO).

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) established Space Solid Fuel Rocket Carrier Co. Ltd. in May 2000 as the primary contractor for its all-solid-propellant space launch vehicle programme. The company was responsible for the development and marketing of the vehicle, with the 6th Space Academy in Inner Mongolia responsible for the solid motors. The development programme officially entered the engineering phase in November 2000, with the third-stage successfully tested on 25 February 2001.

Kaituozhe 1 solid-propellant launch vehicle (Chinese Internet)

The KT-1 is a 13.6m, four-stage design. The 1.4m diameter first stage has four nozzles. The total launch mass is 20t. It is the first Chinese-made space launch vehicle to be equipped with a Strapdown Inertial Navigation System (SINS) for guidance. Capable of being launched from a mobile, truck-based platform, the KT-1 provides the fast deployment of a micro satellite into earth orbit. Without the need to rely on complex launch pad facilities, the vehicle can be launched from almost any location, increasing its survivability in time of war.

So far the KT-1 has been launched twice, but none fully successful. In the first launch in September 2002, the LV failed to place a 35.8kg microsatellite into the 300 km polar orbit due to a second stage malfunction. A second launch in September 2003 sent a 40kg PS-2 microsatellite into the space but on the wrong orbit. Chinese space officials insisted that the LV guidance system, fairing separation and satellite-launcher separation all worked according to plan but also admitted that "not all objectives were achieved”.

Improved Variants

Space Solid Fuel Rocket Carrier Co. Ltd. also developed an improved variant, originally designated KT-2 and later renamed KT-1A. This is a four-stage orbital launch vehicle capable of sending 300kg payload into the Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) and polar orbit. With an estimated launch mass of 40t, the KT-1A consists of a new larger diameter first stage motor, topped by the first two stages of the basic KT-1 vehicles.

A larger size KT-2A (later renamed KT-1B) was designed for polar orbits missions with greater payload capability (~400kg and up to three separate payloads). The vehicle consists of two solid boosters derived from the first stage motor of the KT-1, a larger-diameter core second stage motor like that of the KT-2, a new larger-diameter third stage motor, and an enormous new fairing.

Anti-Satellite Weapon Test

According to a report by Aviation Weeks and Space Technology on 17 January 2007, U.S. intelligence agencies believed that China carried out a successful anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon test on 11 January, destroying the retired FengYun-1C meteorological satellite with a kinetic kill vehicle launched onboard a modified intermediate-range ballistic missile. The launch vehicle used during the test was speculated to be the KT-409, a derivation of the KT-1 solid-propellant space launch vehicle.

The report suggested that the FengYun-1C satellite (launched in 1999) was attacked by an ASAT system launched from an unknown location near Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC) as the satellite at 530 miles (853km) altitude 4 degree west of Xichang. The attack occurred at about 17:28 EST on 11 January 2007 (22:28 GMT, 06:28 on 12 January local time).

Chronology

November 2000: KaiTuoZhe solid-propellant launch vehicle programme entered engineering development.
25 February 2001: Third-stage of the launcher successfully tested.
15 September 2002: First flight of the KT-1. Launch site: Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre; Launch vehicle: KT-1; Payload: PS-1 microsatellite (35.8kg). The satellite failed to enter the scheduled 300km polar orbit due to a malfunction of the LV's second stage.
16 September 2003: Second launch of the KT-1. Launch site: Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre; Launch vehicle: KT-1; Payload: PS-2 microsatellite (40kg). The launch was only partially successful. Chinese space officials insisted that the LV guidance system, fairing separation and satellite-launcher separation all worked according to plan but also admitted that "not all objectives were achieved”.
17 January 2007: Anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon test. Launch site: A launch spot near the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre; Launch vehicle: KT-409; Payload: kinetic kill vehicle; The weapon destroyed a retired weather satellite FY-1C stationed at 530 miles (853km) altitude 4 degree west of Xichang