CHINA HAS UNVEILED A REDESIGNED LONG MARCH 9 ROCKET, CLOSELY RESEMBLING SPACEX’S STARSHIP. THE UPDATED DESIGN REPLACES THE ORIGINAL THREE-STAGE CONFIGURATION WITH SOLID BOOSTERS, INTRODUCING A TWO-STAGE, FULLY REUSABLE VEHICLE.
THE NEW LONG MARCH 9 FEATURES A FIRST STAGE POWERED BY 30 METHANE-FUELED ENGINES, EACH PRODUCING 200 TONS OF THRUST. THE DESIGN OF THE ROCKET – SEEN RECENTLY AT A MAJOR AIRSHOW IN CHINA – ALIGNS WITH SPACEX’S STARSHIP, WHICH USES 33 RAPTOR ENGINES PRODUCING 280 TONS OF THRUST EACH. THE ROCKET’S SECOND STAGE ALSO INCORPORATES AERODYNAMIC FLAPS SIMILAR TO THOSE ON STARSHIP A NEW SHIFT TOWARD REUSABLE TECHNOLOGY.
CHINA PLANS TO LAUNCH THE LONG MARCH 9 IN 2033 TO SUPPORT EXTENDED LUNAR MISSIONS. EARLY MISSIONS WILL RELY ON CONVENTIONAL ROCKETS LIKE THE LONG MARCH 10, BUT THE REUSABLE DESIGN IS EXPECTED TO ENABLE SUSTAINED OPERATIONS NEAR THE MOON’S SOUTH POLE, WHERE WATER ICE IS BELIEVED TO EXIST.
REUSABLE TECHNOLOGY HAS BECOME CENTRAL TO SPACE COMPETITION. NASA AND SPACEX CURRENTLY LEAD IN HEAVY-LIFT REUSABLE ROCKETS, BUT CHINA’S EVOLVING DESIGNS SHOW ITS FOCUS ON ADVANCING LUNAR EXPLORATION AND ESTABLISHING A STRONG PRESENCE IN SPACE. THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA VIEW THE MOON AS A CRITICAL MILESTONE IN FUTURE SPACE DEVELOPMENT.
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