China’s Long March 9 rocket aims to rival SpaceX’s Starship

Nov 6

Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

China has revealed a redesigned version of its Long March 9 rocket and the new design bears a striking resemblance to SpaceX’s Starship. This update was showcased earlier this week at an airshow in Zhuhai, signaling a major shift in China’s approach to reusable space technology.

The original design of the Long March 9 featured a three-stage configuration with solid rocket boosters. However, the new model transitions to a two-stage, fully reusable rocket.

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The first stage is equipped with 30 YF-215 engines fueled by methane and liquid oxygen. Each engine provides 200 tons of thrust to the rocket. This design mirrors SpaceX’s Starship, which uses 33 methane-fueled Raptor engines, delivering 280 tons of thrust each.

The second stage also includes aerodynamic flaps similar to those on Starship, emphasizing reusability as a core feature.

China’s space agency plans to launch the redesigned Long March 9 by 2033. The rocket is expected to support long-term lunar exploration and settlement.

Earlier missions to the moon will use the more conventional Long March 10 rocket. The new reusable design is expected to enable sustained operations, particularly near the lunar south pole. Experts believe that region harbors valuable water ice.

The development of the Long March 9 reflects a strategic pivot by China’s space program, influenced by the success of SpaceX’s reusable technology.

Both nations are racing to secure leadership in lunar exploration. NASA currently maintains a lead through its partnership with SpaceX and its advancements in heavy-lift reusable technology.

As China advances its Long March 9 project, the ongoing space race between the U.S. and China intensifies. Both countries are eyeing the moon as a key step in shaping the future of human space exploration.

Tags: Aerospace, China, China, NASA, People’s Republic of China, Space Technology, SpaceX, Starship

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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