On Wednesday, a private Chinese space company launched the world’s first methane-liquid oxygen rocket into orbit. The move has overtaken American rival SpaceX in sending next-generation launch vehicles into space. SpaceX has also been working on the technology to fly rockets from methane for a long time, but it has not succeeded. SpaceX is the company of Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. However, SpaceX has many records in its name, which no other private company in the world has been able to achieve.
Chinese Company Succeeded In Second Attempt
Chinese state media reported that the Juke-2 carrier rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 9 a.m. (0100 GMT) and completed its flight as planned. This was the second attempt by Landspace, a Beijing-based company, to launch Juke-2. Landspace is one of the earliest space companies in China’s commercial launch sector. Its first attempt in December last year had failed.
Beat Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos
Wednesday’s launch gives China an edge over US rivals, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, in the race to launch methane-fueled carrier vehicles. It is considered less polluting, safe, cheap and suitable fuel for reusable rockets. With this successful launch, Landspace has also become the second private company in China to launch a propellant rocket.
China Has Flown Rockets With Kerosene As Well
Earlier in April, Beijing Tianbing Technology successfully launched a kerosene-oxygen rocket. This marked another step towards developing rockets that could be refuelled and used again. Chinese commercial space companies have been increasingly involved in this field since 2014 when the Jinping administration allowed private investment in the space industry. LandSpace is one of the earliest and best-funded companies.
