CAST Small Satellite Platforms
China Academy of Space Technology (CAST)
CAST's CAST2000 and CAST3000 platforms for small-to-medium LEO Earth observation and science satellites.
Key figurescomparable across the catalogue
- Mass
- 100 kg
Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.
As published by the supplier
- CAST2000 Mass Range
- 100–500 kg
- CAST3000 Mass Range
- 500–2,000 kg
- Applications
- Earth observation (optical, SAR), science, technology demo
- Notable Programs
- Gaofen series, Beijing series, HJ constellation
- Production Rate
- >20 satellites/year
- Location
- Beijing, China
About
China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) develops and manufactures small and medium satellite platforms for Earth observation, science, and technology demonstration missions. The CAST2000 series targets satellites in the 100–500 kg class, used for optical and SAR Earth observation satellites including the Beijing series and Gaofen series. CAST3000 targets the 500–2,000 kg class for dedicated Earth observation and navigation missions.
CAST small platforms have been used for China’s Gaofen series high-resolution Earth observation satellites (GF-1 through GF-14), which together provide China with comprehensive sub-meter and multispectral coverage of the Earth’s surface. GF-1 (2 m resolution, launched 2013) was a breakthrough mission demonstrating CAST’s capability to deliver cost-effective high-resolution imaging.
CAST also manufactures the YAOGAN series of military reconnaissance satellites and the HJ (Huanjing) environmental disaster monitoring constellation. The organization’s satellite manufacturing facility in Beijing is one of the largest in Asia, producing over 20 satellites per year.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.