Kaituozhe (rocket family)

The Kaituozhe (开拓者), meaning "Pathfinder" or "Pioneer," is a family of solid-fueled carrier rockets developed by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). These rockets are primarily designed for launching small satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO).

The Kaituozhe family is known for its quick-reaction launch capability, offering a relatively rapid and cost-effective solution for deploying small payloads. Different variants of the Kaituozhe rockets have been developed, offering varying payload capacities and performance characteristics. These variations allow the Kaituozhe family to address a range of small satellite launch requirements.

The development of the Kaituozhe series reflects China's growing capabilities and ambitions in the commercial space launch market. They are often marketed towards commercial customers needing dedicated or rideshare launch services for small satellites. Further development and upgrades to the Kaituozhe family are expected to continue.