CAS Space plans first flight of Lihun 2 spacecraft for 2027

Guangzhou-based aerospace company CAS Space intends to conduct the first flight of its Lihun 2 spacecraft during the first quarter of 2027. The mission aims to test whether the vehicle can descend from an altitude of approximately 100 kilometers and perform a safe, controlled landing on Earth.

The Lihun 2 is an 18-meter-long vehicle with a diameter of 3.35 meters and a launch mass of roughly 60 tons. It features a rocket booster equipped with three self-developed Licin 1 engines, which utilize liquid oxygen and kerosene. The booster is designed for vertical landing and reuse.

According to Wang Yinchen, an executive vice president at CAS Space Frontier Labs, the design phase is complete, and successful ground testing of the payload module and booster has occurred. The spacecraft is capable of carrying either up to seven passengers or three tons of payload. Planned experiments for the initial mission include microgravity research involving intelligent robots and pharmaceutical studies, such as protein crystallization and small-molecule drug testing.