The rocket carrying China’s Tianwen-1 Mars rover is pictured February 2021 after liftoff in Wenchang, Hainan province, China. On Monday, Chinese company LandSpace executed a static-fire test with its 217-foot-tall Zhuque-3 rocket launcher on the way to its inaugural test flight expected at some point later this year. File Photo By EPA<\/p>\n
Oct. 22 (UPI) — Chinese space authorities reached a new milestone this week as they tested a reusable rocket that they hope to use to join the United States, Japan and other nations in the bid for space dominance.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Chinese company LandSpace executed a static-fire test with its 217-foot-tall Zhuque-3 rocket launcher. The rocket is on the way to its inaugural test flight expected at some point later this year.\n<\/p>\n
“The vehicle will next proceed with planned vertical integration rehearsal, before returning to the technical zone for inspection and maintenance in preparation for its upcoming orbital launch and first-stage recovery,” LandSpace officials wrote<\/a> on social media.<\/p>\n The static-fire testing of the stainless steel space rocket is a common prelaunch trial in which the rocket remains anchored to the pad while its engines are fired.\n<\/p>\n The test took place in<\/a> northwestern China’s Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone.<\/p>\n The Zhuque-3 can haul more than 40,000 pounds, which is about the same carrying power as the Falcon 9 produced by the Elon Musk<\/a>-owned SpaceX<\/a>. That rocket reportedly can carry a little more than 50,200 pounds.\n<\/p>\n The Chinese government revealed its intent nearly a decade ago to be a top 3 global aerospace power<\/a> by 2030.<\/p>\n In July 2023, Beijing-based LandSpace’s 164-foot Zhuque-2 rocket lifted off from<\/a> China’s Jiuquan launch complex in its first attempt at a methane-fueled rocket lift.<\/p>\n