KT-1
Launch vehicle · China
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Model of KT-1 launch vehicle
Credit: via Chen Lan
Chinese all-solid orbital launch vehicle. China's first solid propellant orbital launch vehicle was derived from the first and second stages of the DF-31 ICBM with a new solid third stage. The vehicle was named Kaituozhe-1 (Explorer-1) and was capable of putting 100 kg into polar orbits.
First flight was scheduled to occur before the end of 2002. The third stage completed its first ground test firing on February 25, 2001. The Space Solid Fuel Rocket Carrier Co., Ltd. was responsible for the development of the vehicle with the 6th Academy in Inner Mongolia responsible for the solid motors. By April 2001 overall design of the vehicle and 12 subsystems had passed critical design reviews. The company also had an ambitious long-term plan to develop seven other solid engines, three additional launch vehicles, and make up to 10 launches per year by 2007.
LEO Payload: 100 kg (220 lb) to a 500 km orbit at 98.00 degrees.
Related
Photo Gallery
KT-1 Launch Prep 
KT-1 on Pad
Chronology
9 events
2000 May 28
LV Family: DF-31. Launch Vehicle: KT-1.- China to Develop Solid Fuel Launch Vehicle - . Nation: China. China established the Space Solid Fuel Rocket Carrier Co., Ltd., to develop the new SLV-1 launch vehicle. This would be a mobile, partially reusable small space launcher..
2000 August 15
LV Family: DF-31. Launch Vehicle: KT-1.- KT-1 solid rocket launcher - . Nation: China. China completed the overall design of the rocket engine that is to be used on its first all-solid space launch vehicle..
2000 November 7
LV Family: DF-31. Launch Vehicle: KT-1.- Solid Launcher Officially Named - . Nation: China. China's new solid small space launcher was officially named "Kaituozhe-1" (Explorer-1). The launcher would be capable of putting 100 kg into polar orbit and was scheduled to make its first flight in 2002..
2000 November 16
LV Family: DF-31. Launch Vehicle: KT-1.- Kaituozhe-1 (KT-1) small launcher passes design review - . Nation: China. A 14-member review committee concluded that the overall design of the KT-1 launch vehicle was feasible and could meet the requirement for launching micro-sats. The project officially entered the engineering phase..
2001 February 25
LV Family: DF-31. Launch Vehicle: KT-1.- Kaituozhe 1 Third Stage Engine Successfully Tested - . Nation: China. The solid engine used on the third stage of the Kaituozhe 1 launch vehicle performed its first ground test firing. The test was successful and all parameters meet design specifications..
2001 April 23
LV Family: DF-31. Launch Vehicle: KT-1.- Kaitozhe 1 First Commercial Launch in 2002 - . Nation: China. Kaituozhe 1's first commercial launch was scheduled for 2002..
2002 September 15
10:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Taiyuan. LV Family: DF-31. Launch Vehicle: KT-1. FAILURE: Second stage failure.. Failed Stage: 2.- HTSTL-1 - . Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Nation: China. Manufacturer: Tsinghua. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: HTSTL. First attempted launch of the all-solid-propellant KT-1 launch vehicle. The 50 kg test satellite, built by university students, was to have been placed in a 300 km polar orbit..
2003 September 16
Launch Site: Taiyuan. LV Family: DF-31. Launch Vehicle: KT-1. FAILURE: Fourth stage failed to ignite.. Failed Stage: 4.- Kaituozhe 1 - . Payload: PS-2. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Nation: China. Spacecraft: HTSTL. Second attempted launch of KT-1. The launch was intended to place a 40 kg microsatellite called PS-2 into a 300 x 300 km polar orbit..