For its maiden flight, Qingzhou will aboard Lijian-2, a reusable rocket developed by CAS Space, a commercial spaceflight company under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

China's commercial aerospace sector saw rapid development in 2024, with Qingzhou cargo spacecraft selected as one of the two winners in the China Manned Space Agency's solicitation for a low-cost cargo transportation system. The Haoloong space shuttle, a reusable cargo spaceplane designed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute in Sichuan province, was the other winner.

"Qingzhou represents a milestone in the commercial development of China's manned space program," Chang said. "The flexibility of commercial aerospace, its cost control, and pursuit of innovation are inherent advantages that will effectively strengthen China's overall space capabilities."