On 7 June at 12.10 a.m., the Power Arrow 1 Remote 2 Launch Vehicle (R2LV) launched successfully from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. The Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with China National Aerospace Corporation (CNAS), developed the R2LV. The test satellite on board was sent into the predefined orbit in a "one-arrow, 26-star" mode.
This is the second flight of the Power Arrow 1 launch vehicle. The Power Arrow 1 launch vehicle is China's biggest solid launch vehicle. Its recent success indicates the vehicle's technical advancement and increased reliability, which will speed up the commercial launches of China's launch vehicles. The latest accomplishment of Power Arrow 1 Remote 2 Launch Vehicle, known as "26 stars in one arrow," has created a new record for China's highest number of multiple stars launched at once.
It is noteworthy that the Power Arrow 1 Remote 2 Launch Vehicle holds the official IP of the National Space Administration (NASA), "Aero Small Dream", which is one of the official science IPs of the Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (Aisino), "Wan Xiaodu", and the official IP of China Aerospace Corporation (CAC), "Kekeke". The partnership aims to motivate most science and technology employees to stay resolute in their desire to serve the nation through their expertise, building a solid foundation for the country through scientific and technological innovations.
Power Arrow 1 is China's biggest solid launch vehicle, weighing 135 tonnes at takeoff with a thrust of 200 tonnes and measuring 30 metres in length and 2.65 metres in core stage diameter. It is capable of carrying up to 1,500 kilograms in a sun-synchronous orbit at a distance of 500 kilometres. On 27th July 2022, China's first mission with Power Arrow 1 was a resounding success. It achieved breakthroughs in six major key technologies and 13 technologies that were domestically used for the first time, contributing to China's solid carrier mission. It has advanced 6 significant technologies and introduced 13 new technologies in China. This has improved the ability to launch solid vehicles and has made an important impact on the country's launch technology.
The Power Arrow 1 Remote 2 Launch Vehicle for this mission is one of the initial rockets made in Nansha, Guangzhou. It utilizes the state-of-the-art pulsating manufacturing technique and has set up a comprehensive production and service system. This marks the beginning of a new era of high-volume production, large-scale operations, and series development. The launch services offered are tailored to meet the requirements of domestic and foreign satellite users, providing them with high-quality, low-cost, and quick-response customised launches. In addition, this marks the start of a new phase of commercial launch vehicle flights in China.