At 19:00 on March 30, 2026, the Yaoyi Lijian-2 carrier rocket blasted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Spaceflight Innovation Test Site and delivered multiple satellites into preset orbits with high precision, marking the complete success of its maiden flight.
As China’s first commercial launch vehicle adopting the CBC (Common Booster Core) clustered configuration, the Lijian-2 features a parallel arrangement of multiple common core modules to achieve a leap forward in launch capacity, boasting a low Earth orbit (LEO) payload capacity of 12 tonnes and an 8-tonne payload capability for the 500-kilometer Sun-synchronous Orbit (SSO).
Its modular "building-block" design substantially cuts launch costs and heralds a new phase of modularized and highly reliable launch vehicle technology for China’s commercial space industry. Aligned with mainstream international advanced modular development pathways, the rocket fills the domestic technical gap in commercial space CBC configuration and realizes an engineering breakthrough of "one-time development adaptable to diversified payload requirements".
Behind the triumphant liftoff of the Lijian‑2 launch vehicle, the ground cryogenic loading system serves as the lifeline for propellant supply, with cryogenic vacuum regulating valves functioning as the core control components of such critical system. Operating with liquid oxygen at an ultra‑low temperature of −196°C, these valves must satisfy stringent specifications in thermal insulation, sealing dependability and regulation precision.
To tackle tough technical challenges including material shrinkage under cryogenic conditions and long‑term stable vacuum insulation, Zhejiang Sanfang Control Valve Co., Ltd. leverages its proven expertise in the design and manufacture of cryogenic valves. By optimizing vacuum interlayer structure and conducting rigorous cryogenic cycle qualification tests, the company delivers products fully compliant with stringent technical criteria for the propellant loading system at space launch sites.
During the launch mission, Zhejiang Sanfang Control Valve Co., Ltd. dispatched elite technical teams to provide on-site support at the launch site. From pre-fueling preparations through to the final countdown prior to liftoff, all installed valves operated with precise actuation, dependable sealing and stable regulation, accomplishing the maiden flight support mission for Lijian-2 with zero operational faults and further demonstrating the company’s core technical competence in ultra-low-temperature special valves.
To guarantee flawless execution of the Lijian-2 launch, the company implemented full-process inspection for every cryogenic vacuum regulating valve, covering non-destructive testing, hydraulic strength verification, ambient and cryogenic tightness testing, cryogenic flow assessment and vacuum insulation examination. Each valve was required to meet stringent technical benchmarks: vacuum degree ≤1.33×10⁻³ Pa and outgassing rate of vacuum cavity ≤5×10⁻⁹ Pa·m³/s. Subjected to rigorous full-limit qualification assessments, all 38 sets of products were delivered to the launch site with a 100% acceptance rate, laying a solid technical foundation for the successful launch of Lijian-2.
Supporting national aerospace strategies constitutes an indispensable mission for Zhejiang Sanfang Control Valve Co., Ltd. Each successful space launch serves as authoritative verification of product reliability. Moving forward, Sanfang will deepen its R&D on special valve technologies and persist in rigorous performance certification, delivering steady and reliable supporting components for successive aerospace projects and contributing its share to the high-quality advancement of China’s aerospace industry.