Kuaizhou 1A launches satellites into orbit

Built by China Space Sanjiang Group in Hubei province, a CASIC subsidiary, the 20-meter Kuaizhou 1A rocket has a liftoff weight of about 30 metric tons. It is capable of sending a maximum 200-kilogram payload into a sun-synchronous orbit, or a 300 kg payload into low-Earth orbit.

The Kuaizhou 1A and Kuaizhou 11, a larger type, are the most used solid-propellant rockets in China. They boast good reliability, high precision, convenient pre-launch preparation and low costs, designers have said.