This is a very interesting leap in Chinese aerospace science.
Join the conversation
China has announced that the test flight of one of its reusable rockets has been a real success. On June 23 of this year it was planned to launch its rocket that seeks to be direct opposition to the rockets that exist in the West among which Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Blue Origin stand out. Although it is true that this type of rockets have been around for more than 80 years, until now the technology had not been perfected so that everything worked as it should and allowed saving the costs involved in rockets whose phases are not reusable.
The first to achieve this and commercialize it intensively was Elon Musk with SpaceX, but the rest of the companies have quickly fallen behind to ensure that the technology is developed optimally and to be able to recover the thrusters intact. Savings are very important in these technologies since space launches have always been incredibly expensive.
Thus, it is normal that China has become one of the main competitors in this type of markets and now the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has confirmed that its latest test has been a real success. . His goal is clearly to beat SpaceX and NASA, something he has been working on for some time.
A qualitative leap
The Chinese reusable rocket | Image: CASC
With the aim of launching heavy and small payloads into near space, China is developing a reusable rocket, namely the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It is 3.8 meters in diameter, with three variable thrust liquid oxygen/methane engines and has four folding landing legs. It is notable, since China is betting on methane as an alternative to other types of fuels.
This is a very important milestone since it is the largest vertical landing rocket that China has put into orbit, being the highest successful test that has been achieved in the national manufacture of this type of aerospace instruments. In this sense, the flight lasted only six minutes, but it could be carried out without problems.
The next border marked by China is that of fly an even bigger one that can reach 70 kilometers in height. To do this, yes, we will have to wait until 2025, where the Asian country’s technology could beat that of SpaceX. This is necessarily a hard blow for SpaceX, since at the moment it is not achieving its Starship come out with the expected success and on time.
China’s space ambition goes far. It has all kinds of quite advanced rockets. In addition, great strides are being made around the world in these issues, since some rockets can even devour themselves.
You can follow Andro4all on Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter (X) or check our Telegram channel to stay up to date with the latest technology news.
Join the conversation
