HELSINKI — Commercial launch provider CAS Space is looking to enter international markets to ensure long-term growth.

CAS Space, a commercial spin-off of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), established itself with its solid-state rocket Kinetica-1 (Lijian-1), launched four times, including one First flight in 2022all this successfully. Its main customer is Changguang Satellite Technology (CGST), another CAS business entity that is building an Earth observation constellation.

The upcoming Kinetica-2 rocket, currently scheduled to launch in September 2025, will enhance CAS Space’s payload capabilities to meet broader customer needs, offering up to 7,800 kg in sun-synchronous orbit and 12,000 kg in low earth orbit. Potential recovery tests for reuse are planned for the end of 2026. It recently obtained a role in launching a low cost freight transportation system at the Tiangong space station, and aims to offer suborbital tourist flights by 2027.

CAS Space is planning 5-8 launches next year, with 2-3 Kinetica-2 launches also booked. But the company is looking to expand to offer its services globally.

“There is a lot of competition right now, and our view is that we must have a very big market here (in China), but it is not big enough for all these big companies,” Liu Weipeng, director of CAS Space’s international marketing. , said SpaceNews during the 75th International Astronautical Congress in Milan on October 17.

CAS Space faces competition for launch contracts from constellations such as Guowang and A thousand sails (Qianfan) and the business plans of not only other startups, including Landspace, Galactic Energy, Space Pioneer, iSpace and Deep Blue Aerospace, but also major state space contractor CASC and its Longue Marche rockets. It now faces competition in the potential suborbital tourism market in China, with Deep Blue Aerospace. I’m selling two places for 2027 flights.

“So for a company like ours to grow, it is important for us to expand to international customers,” Liu said.

Part of this effort was a presence at the IAC, which hosted more than 11,000 attendees. But market entry is difficult on several fronts, including U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and other export controls, but also competition.

“It’s difficult,” Liu said, of trying to break through internationally. “I would say it will be rewarding, but it will be a very difficult first step, especially knowing all the regulations that are in place.” Liu adds that ITAR has almost entirely excluded CAS Space from the US and European markets.

Competition from SpaceX, with its Transporter missions, is also presented as a major obstacle to obtaining international contracts. There is also the question of the perception of the Chinese launch industry.

“There is a misconception, I would say, that Chinese companies are under the radar. They are not transparent enough. This is something we see a lot,” says Liu. “But as a trading company active in global markets, we want to change this perspective.” This includes being active on X, formerly Twitter, posting updates and even answering questions.