2026年3月30日，首枚“力箭二号”火箭在酒泉商业发射区升空。中国已开展了涉及原型货运飞船和卫星的交会与邻近操作（RPO）测试，这是迈向低成本轨道基础设施的一步。
“轻舟”原型航天器于3月30日搭载中科宇航（CAS Space）的首枚“力箭二号”液氧煤油火箭发射，成功进入轨道，并携带了两颗小型伴随卫星。该原型航天器由中国科学院微小卫星创新研究院（IAMCAS）研制，随后自行升至622乘584公里的轨道，作为其天宫空间站货运补给方案在轨测试的一部分。随后，它将两颗卫星释放入轨。
中国科学院空天信息创新研究院（AIRCAS）4月16日的更新显示，其小型“新征程一号”卫星与4200公斤重的“轻舟”实验航天器完成了远距离交会接近和安全撤离测试。AIRCAS的声明将“新征程一号”描述为“太空灯塔”，该卫星可能作为合作导航目标，提供参考信号或跟踪特征。
显示航天器相距约5公里的图像表明正在进行中程交会与邻近操作（RPO）测试。这表明已验证了精确接近能力，包括相对导航、制导、导航与控制（GNC）以及潜在的自主决策。RPO能力被认为是双用途的，既可用于民用应用（如维护和碎片移除），也可用于潜在的在轨检查或反空间活动。“轻舟”原型机是目前正在研制的两种低成本空间站补给航天器之一。
The first Kinetica-2 rocket rises into the sky at Jiuquan's commercial launch zone, March 30, 2026. Credit: CAS Space
HELSINKI — China has conducted rendezvous and proximity operations tests involving a prototype cargo spacecraft and a satellite in a step towards low-cost orbital infrastructure.
The Qingzhou prototype spacecraft launched on CAS Space’s first Kinetica-2 kerosene-liquid oxygen rocket March 30, successfully entering orbit, carrying two small companion satellites.
The Qingzhou prototype spacecraft, developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAMCAS), raised itself to a 622 by 584-kilometer orbit, as part of planned on-orbit testing related to its design as a cargo spacecraft to resupply the Tiangong space station. It then released the two satellites into orbit.
An update from the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS) April 16 reveals that its small New Journey-01 satellite completed a long-distance rendezvous approach and safe withdrawal test with the 4,200-kilogram Qingzhou experimental spacecraft.
Described as a “space lighthouse,” by the AIRCAS statement, the New Journey-01 satellite likely acted as a cooperative navigation target, providing reference signals or tracking features to support approach and departure phases.
An image showing the spacecraft separated by around 5 kilometers indicates testing of mid-range rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO). This suggests the demonstration of precision approach capabilities, including relative navigation, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), and potentially autonomous decision-making, without attempting close-range proximity or docking.
RPO capabilities are considered dual-use, used for both civilian applications such as servicing and debris removal and potential on-orbit inspection or counterspace activities.
The Qingzhou prototype is one of two low-cost space station resupply spacecraft being developed under a program initiated by China’s human spaceflight agency, CMSEO, to support Tiangong.
The spacecraft carries 27 experimental payloads totaling 1,020 kg and has a design lifetime of up to three years in orbit. Global Times, citing IAMCAS, reported that the spacecraft had completed a series of initial objectives, laying the foundation for the formal development of the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft. The full Qingzhou will fly cargo to Tiangong. The other spacecraft being developed under the program, named Haolong, is a 10-meter-long, 7,000 kg reusable mini-shuttle design.
The tests have relevance beyond China’s low-cost cargo plans, which complement the existing Tianzhou freighter, pointing toward broader ambitions in autonomous and scalable in-orbit operations.
AIRCAS stated the on-orbit tests marked progress for its plans. New Journey-01 completed a series of missions, including in-space robotic operations, spatial display and interactive interface experiments, Earth limb observation a
