Rocket Delivery Could Become a Common Method in the Near Future.
Space Epoch, a startup based in Beijing, China, is planning to collaborate with Alibaba’s online shopping platform Taobao to facilitate delivery via rockets.
Chinese startup reveals ambition to dominate the delivery industry through the use of rockets. (Photo: Getty).
In a statement released on March 31, Space Epoch announced that the project is in the initial testing phase. They aim to develop a reusable rocket capable of carrying up to 10 tons of cargo in a 120 cubic meter container.
It’s no surprise that Space Epoch has been humorously dubbed the “SpaceX of China.” This startup recently conducted a series of tests related to the development of a reusable stainless steel rocket, heavily inspired by SpaceX’s Starship system.
Last year, the Yuanxing-1 rocket developed by Space Epoch successfully completed launch and recovery tests offshore.
The company emphasized that they will conduct rocket launch tests in the near future but noted that achieving their goals will not be easy in a short timeframe.
Space Epoch reported that they raised 200 million yuan (approximately 686.5 billion VND) in their third funding round last November.
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently called for the expansion of strategic industries, including the commercial space sector. This is seen as key to building satellite groups for communication, remote sensing, and navigation.
Last year, China recorded a total of 17 commercial rocket launches (1 failure) out of 67 launches of objects into orbit. This is a record number, nearly doubling the 10 commercial launches in 2022 (2 failures).
