Chinese company launches Mexico-built satellites

CAS Space, a Beijing-based commercial rocket maker, launched the eighth rocket in its Kinetica 1 series on Tuesday afternoon, carrying seven satellites, including a pair built in Mexico, into orbit.

The rocket lifted off at 3:33 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China's Gobi Desert and placed the payloads — a synthetic aperture radar satellite, an Earth-observation satellite and five experimental satellites — into preset orbit, the company said.

Among the payloads, the ThumbSat-1 and ThumbSat-2 are miniature satellites, each weighing about 100 grams, designed and built by Mexican private company ThumbSat. They were created for simple tasks, according to the company.

"ThumbSat-1 carries a selfie payload, aiming to capture its own mirror-selfie in orbit. ThumbSat-2 carries an artistic payload, merging science and creativity, reminding us that exploration is not only about data but also about expression," the company said on its website.

ThumbSat said the mission was made possible through close collaboration with CAS Space, as engineers from both sides designed a specialized satellite deployer.

The company also said it will set up ground-receiving stations across Mexico to allow students and space enthusiasts to use antennas and software, provided free of charge, to track signals from orbit and "take part in a mission that crosses borders and disciplines."

CAS Space said in a statement that "as a groundbreaking cooperation between China and Mexico in the field of satellite development and service, this project marks a milestone breakthrough for China's space industry in the North American commercial space market."

The company said the mission's success will strengthen Sino-Mexican scientific and technological cooperation and contribute to "building a fair, open and inclusive system for international space cooperation."

So far, CAS Space has helped clients deploy 70 satellites with its Kinetica 1 rockets.

Formerly known as the ZK 1A, the Kinetica 1 is 30 meters long with a diameter of 2.65 meters and a liftoff weight of 135 metric tons. It is capable of carrying satellites with a combined weight of 1.5 tons to a sun-synchronous orbit about 500 kilometers above Earth.