Kuaizhou-1A-Pro (KZ-1A-Pro)

Kuaizhou-1A-Pro (Airsat 08) [EXPACE]

The Kuaizhou-1 launcher, developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASIC), is a small, solid fueled launch vehicle, which is possibly based on the road mobile DF-21 IRBM with two additional upper stages.

The Kuaizhou-1 vehicle consits of three solid fueled stages and a fourth liquid fueled stage.

The vehicle is reportedly designed for quick-reaction launches and can reportedly place 400 kg into orbit. The payload of Kuaizhou-1 is integrated with the upper stage.

A commercial variant is offered under the designation Fei Tian 1 (FT-1). This one offers a separable payload and a larger payload fairing. Another version, Kuaizhou-1A appears to be similar, also offering separable payloads. Possibly, these names refer both to the same version.

An upgraded version called Kuaizhou-1A-Pro (formerly Kuaizhou-1B) with larger diameter stage (1.4 m), a restartable stage 4, and wider fairing (1.8 m) has been introduced in December 2024. Notably stage 4 is mounted upside-down above the payload.

→ complete list of all Kuaizhou-1 flights