China’s Long March 9: A Game Changer for Lunar Exploration
China is making significant strides in lunar exploration with the development of the Long March 9 heavy-lift rocket, incorporating reusable technology to enhance performance and sustainability. This strategic pivot positions China competitively in the global space race, as it outlines ambitious plans for lunar missions and resource exploration. The advancements in the Long March 9 could reshape international space policy and foster new collaborations, marking a pivotal moment in the future of space exploration.
Firefly Aerospace and Northrop Grumman Collaborate on New Reusable Rocket
Firefly Aerospace and Northrop Grumman are collaborating on a new medium-lift rocket, the Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV), with a recoverable booster for reuse. The rocket’s return-to-launch-site propulsive landing aims to enhance competitiveness in pricing, aligning Firefly with Rocket Lab, Relativity Space, and Stoke Space in the pursuit of rocket reusability. The MLV is set to join the ranks of launch providers for national security missions, with plans for downrange landings on barges at sea.
Chinese Company Space Pioneer Secures $207 Million Funding for Tianlong-3 Rocket
Chinese commercial company Space Pioneer secures over 1.5 billion yuan funding for its reusable Tianlong-3 rocket, aimed at enhancing China’s launch capabilities. With a total fundraising exceeding four billion yuan, Space Pioneer emerges as a well-funded player in the commercial launcher sector in China.
China’s Reusable Rocket Plans for Space Missions
China’s space contractor, CASC, is set to launch its first two reusable rockets in 2025 and 2026, part of the country’s broader lunar and human spaceflight plans. Unlike SpaceX’s Falcon 9, China’s approach involves catching the rocket using wires, rather than using landing legs. Other commercial firms in China are also working on reusable rockets, including Landspace, CAS Space, Galactic Energy, and iSpace.
Chinese Space Startup Landspace Achieves Successful Vertical Takeoff, Vertical Landing Test for Reusable Rocket
Chinese space startup Landspace achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting the first vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) test for its reusable stainless steel rocket, the Zhuque-3 VTVL-1. The test took place at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, with the…