Chinese startup Landspace is working on reusable steel rockets, following the path opened by SpaceX. SpaceX’s giant rocket Starship was also made of stainless steel instead of carbonfiberThis ambitious project is a significant development for China’s rocket technology. China currently uses disposable launch rockets for space missions.
Landscape CEO Zhang Changwu announced that stainless propellant tanks and Tianque methane-liquid oxygen propellant rocket engine will be used in his new rocket Zhuque-3.
LandSpace announced its new version of Zhuque-3 stainless steel reusable rocket.
LEO 20t expanable，16.5t recovery under trajectory, 11t return to the pad.
via https://t.co/Sk4DrCRv6t pic.twitter.com/eVHmYTXieU— Ace of Razgriz (@raz_liu) November 21, 2023
Able to carry loads up to 20 tons
The payload capacity of the two-stage launcher rocket is expected to be 20 tons in the expendable configuration to low earth orbit. While the first stage range of the rocket into low earth orbit will be 16.5 tons, the capacity will be 11 tons in case of landing back.
It appears that the project is still at an early stage, as details such as the size of the rocket and when the test launch will take place have not been disclosed. Building a rocket from stainless steel is a difficult task due to the weight and properties of steel and the complexity of steel fabrication.
Once the rocket becomes operational, it will have to compete with other companies. Because another company called Space Pioneer is also working on reusable rockets. The Tianlong-3 rocket developed by the company is planned to be launched next year. Tianlong-3 will have the capacity to carry 14 tons of payload to low earth orbit.
The development of both rockets is an indication of how assertive China is in the business of carrying commercial payloads into space.
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