China: China's Lijian-1 carrier rocket achieves high-frequency launch.

Storyline China's Lijian-1 carrier rocket achieves high-frequency launch China's Lijian-1 carrier rocket has recently delivered five satellites into space on it's 13th mission. The rocket, from commercial Chinese aerospace company CAS, blasted off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China. According to the research team, Lijian-1 features long-term fuel storage, and a universal platform-based design enabling diversified adaptation. More importantly, the team says, systemic changes in the rocket's production and launch terminals have provided the foundation for high-density missions. Meng Xiangfu, deputy chief commander, Lijian-1 program： "In terms of production organization, we have achieved mass production capacity of up to 30 rockets a year by applying pulse-line, rhythm-based production and parallel assembly in the automotive industry. In the launch process, dedicated technical workshops and launch pads we built on our own allow rockets to be pre-assembled and tested before being transferred as a whole for launch, greatly shortening preparation cycles and making flight-like launch operation possible." 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 tons. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]