Takes off and lands: the successful launch of a reusable rocket is a breakthrough for the Chinese aerospace industry (video)
On November 2, the Chinese private space company iSpace successfully tested a reusable launch vehicle as part of the Hyperbola-2Y program. The single-stage rocket was launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The reusable Hyperbola-2 stage, 3.35 m in diameter and 17 m long, is equipped with a Focus-1 engine with variable thrust, powered by methane and liquid oxygen. During the 51-second flight, it climbed to an altitude of 178 meters, after which it descended with the help of four landing legs and made a soft landing.
“The vertical takeoff and vertical landing test marks progress in the development of a reusable medium-lift rocket scheduled to debut in 2025. It also marks the latest milestone in China’s quest to replicate the success of SpaceX and its Falcon 9 rocket,” the publication says.
Another view from iSpace pic.twitter.com/KYRRwyyH7A
– Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) November 2, 2023
The tests also tested the vertical landing system, navigation, guidance and control, as well as the recovery and reuse processes.
The press service of iSpace noted that the successful tests indicate a breakthrough by the Chinese commercial aerospace industry in the field of reusable launch vehicles.
Prospects for the Hyperbola program
It is reported that the first flight of the Hyperbola-3 rocket weighing 13.4 tons into low Earth orbit is scheduled for 2025. The 69-meter-long rocket will have to lift 8.5 tons in multiple reentry. The next step involves 25 Hyperbola-3 launches per year until 2030.
At the same time, the developers claim that Hyperbola-3B, which resembles the Falcon Heavy in configuration, will be able to launch at least 15 tons into orbit.
However, it is worth noting that before the successful launch on November 2, iSpace suffered three failures with the launch of Hyperbola, after which it returned to testing earlier this year.
