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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Ready for blast-off: Can China's commercial space firms replicate SpaceX magic?
A methane-fuelled rocket by LandSpace Technology, takes off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in China, on May 17. PHOTO: REUTERS – On a clear morning on May 17, a methane-fuelled rocket thundered off its launchpad in the Gobi Desert, piercing the sky over northwestern China carrying six satellites into orbit. This marked the fifth successful flight for LandSpace, one of China's rising commercial aerospace companies, and underlined Beijing's ambition to catapult its commercial space sector onto the global stage. Two days later, Galactic Energy, another fast-growing Chinese space player, launched a rocket from a ship at sea off eastern Shandong province, deploying four satellites into orbit. The number of rocket launches in China by both state-owned and private firms is expected to hit a record high in 2025, according to Chinese industry reports, amid plans to ramp up investment in the sector. So far, China has carried out more than 30 orbital launches, including at least six in June, with more on the horizon. In 2024, the country recorded 68 orbital launches and in 2023, 67 launches. China's space sector used to be tightly controlled by the state until it was opened up to private companies in 2015. Today, there are over 500 commercial space companies in China. China's commercial space market is projected to balloon from around 2.8 trillion yuan (S$497.9 billion) in 2025 to over 6.6 trillion yuan by 2029, according to various research estimates. In 2024, the Chinese government listed the commercial space sector as a 'new engine of economic growth' in its government work report for the first time, prompting cities such as Beijing and Shanghai to roll out plans to accelerate investment in the sector. Private firms offer services such as space tourism, satellite internet, Earth imaging for farming or city planning purposes as well as private rocket launches for putting small satellites into orbit. In Beijing's southern Daxing district, more than 160 aerospace-related enterprises have formed a cluster nicknamed 'Rocket Street'. The city is building an exhibition hall where visitors, from the second half of 2025, can watch real-time launches of commercial rockets across China. Catching up with the US China's space startups are chasing what analysts call the 'SpaceX moment' or a breakthrough that sees a private Chinese space firm rival Elon Musk's rocket giant on the global stage. SpaceX is the undisputed industry leader, accounting for more than half of the world's 259 orbital launches i n 2024. It is largely thanks to its reusable Falcon 9 workhorse, which has reduced costs for its customers. At least six Chinese commercial space companies have so far successfully launched rockets into orbit. But none have yet to launch and recover a reusable rocket in the way SpaceX has done so since 2017. China's progress is evident, but it still lags far behind the US , said Mr Clayton Swope, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). 'China has not been able to replicate the SpaceX magic, but arguably no other company anywhere has been able to do space at scale like SpaceX,' he said. Investors in China hoping to emulate SpaceX's success have poured money into Chinese private space companies with launch capabilities. Bu t these Chinese firms operate on 'a very small scale', especially compared with SpaceX or Rocket Lab, which is founded in New Zealand but headquartered in the US. Rocket reusability lies at the crux of China's commercial space ambitions, as it is a key factor in cutting launch costs and attracting clients outside of China. Dr Svetla Ben-Itzhak, assistant professor of space and international relations at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, said that while China's private firms are about five to seven years behind SpaceX in reusable launch technology, the gap could close more rapidly given advances in propulsion and accelerated development cycles. Chinese aerospace firms are optimistic about their prospects, with at least two founders of these companies saying that they could match SpaceX's capabilities by 2030. LandSpace founder Zhang Changwu, for instance, said in a June interview that the next three to five years will be a 'decisive period' for China's commercial space industry. His company is aiming for China's first orbital reusable flight by the end of 2025. Space tourism looks set to be launched in China soon. Deep Blue Aerospace, a Chinese firm developing reusable rockets, plans to conduct a 12-minute suborbital flight – meaning the rocket will reach outer space but not enter orbit – for space tourists in 2027. Its first two tickets, priced at 1.5 million yuan, were snapped up the moment they went on sale in October 2024. Meanwhile, state-backed CAS Space has pledged to begin space tourism flights by 2028. However, barriers remain for Chinese firms eyeing global markets. 'International customers want high reliability rates and China's commercial launchers generally just don't have that yet,' said CSIS' Mr Swope. Lingering trust issues with China may also hold back international interest in using China's space services for launch, remote sensing or broadband, he said. 'Due to geopolitical developments, would a Chinese company shut off service to international customers? Are there security concerns arising from the use of a Chinese company?' said Mr Swope. Dr Ben-Itzhak echoed these sentiments, noting that the distrust of Chinese tech is the main hindrance, largely due to perceived and often explicit links to the Chinese government and military, and concerns over transparency. There have also been setbacks in China's commercial space push. In June 2024, a test rocket by Chinese firm Space Pioneer malfunctioned and crashed in central Henan province. No one was hurt, but the company compensated locals for damaged buildings. Months later, in December, the initial public offering (IPO) of Jilin-based satellite firm Chang Guang Satellite Technology was abruptly halted, raising fresh doubts about the sector's profitability and long-term prospects. Even so, Chinese companies, particularly state-owned ones, are making inroads in markets that are friendlier to China. In November 2024, CAS Space's commercial rocket delivered a remote-sensing satellite for Oman, marking a key step into the international market. Analysts said a breakout moment for China's space startups may not just come from reusable rockets but could also come in the form of a high-profile IPO, securing more foreign clients or completing a broadband satellite mega-constellation akin to Starlink. SpaceX now has more than 7,800 Starlink satellites in operation. In comparison, China's two main competitors, Guowang and Qianfan, have deployed about 50 and just under 100 satellites respectively. Still, Qianfan has inked partnerships to offer satellite communications in Brazil, Malaysia and Thailand and is eyeing dozens of other markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Dr Ben-Itzhak said if a private Chinese company breaks through globally, it would not only challenge US commercial dominance but could also change perceptions of China from being a state space power to an innovation leader in space tech. 'This would be comparable to Huawei's rise in telecom,' she said. 'But this time, with rockets and satellites.' Michelle Ng is China Correspondent at The Straits Times. She is interested in Chinese foreign policies, property trends, demographics, education and rural issues. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Ammon
21-05-2025
- Science
- Ammon
Mystery as bright beam of light streaks through the skies over the US
Ammon News - Stargazers across the US have been baffled by a mysterious beam of light streaking through the sky. Around midnight on Saturday, May 17, a glowing streak was visible above the US as far south as New Mexico. With the aurora active after a surprise geomagnetic storm, many people initially thought the streak was STEVE - a white-mauve light emitted by rivers of charged particles. However, astronomers have now revealed the true explanation for this bizarre phenomenon. According to Dr Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer who tracks objects in space, the light was caused by a rocket dumping fuel. Just an hour or so before the light became visible, Chinese startup LandSpace Technology launched a methane and oxygen-fuelled Zhuque-2E Y2 rocket. Dr McDowell says the most likely source of the light was this rocket's second stage, releasing its 'Methalox' rocket fuel at about 155 miles (250km) above the ground. Once released into space, the chemicals in the fuel react with plasma in the Earth's ionosphere to create an eerie whitish glow, just like the one seen above the US. As the glowing streak appeared in the sky, many astronomers' first thought was that they were witnessing a rare space weather phenomenon called STEVE. Over the night of May 17, the Earth was experiencing a moderate (G2 class) geomagnetic storm after being hit by material from a solar eruption. The enormous 'bird wing' eruption had originally been predicted to miss Earth, but the wave of material was wider than expected, and the planet was hit with a glancing blow. Although STEVE is not part of the aurora, it is also caused by space weather and appears like a glowing river of whitish-mauve light in the sky. In a post on X, photographer Tyler Schlitt captured the event, writing: 'Just saw STEVE with my friends here in Southern Kansas is 45 minutes north of Greensburg!' However, it soon became apparent that this was no natural phenomenon. Writing on X, Dr McDowell said: 'TLEs confirm the Zhuque-2 upper stage passed over the US Four Corners area at 0525 UTC May 17 and is the source of the unusual luminous cloud seen by many observers.' The Zhuque-2 rocket was launched by LandSpace Technology from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Area in northwest China at 04:21 UTC. Daily Mail
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Mystery as bright beam of light streaks through the skies over the US
Stargazers across the US have been baffled by a mysterious beam of light streaking through the sky. Around midnight on Saturday, May 17, a glowing streak was visible above the US as far south as New Mexico. With the aurora active after a surprise geomagnetic storm, many people initially thought the streak was STEVE - a white-mauve light emitted by rivers of charged particles. However, astronomers have now revealed the true explanation for this bizarre phenomenon. According to Dr Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer who tracks objects in space, the light was caused by a rocket dumping fuel. Just an hour or so before the light became visible, Chinese startup LandSpace Technology launched a methane and oxygen-fuelled Zhuque-2E Y2 rocket. Dr McDowell says the most likely source of the light was this rocket's second stage, releasing its 'Methalox' rocket fuel at about 155 miles (250km) above the ground. Once released into space, the chemicals in the fuel react with plasma in the Earth's ionosphere to create an eerie whitish glow, just like the one seen above the US. As the glowing streak appeared in the sky, many astronomers' first thought was that they were witnessing a rare space weather phenomenon called STEVE. Over the night of May 17, the Earth was experiencing a moderate (G2 class) geomagnetic storm after being hit by material from a solar eruption. The enormous 'bird wing' eruption had originally been predicted to miss Earth, but the wave of material was wider than expected, and the planet was hit with a glancing blow. Although STEVE is not part of the aurora, it is also caused by space weather and appears like a glowing river of whitish-mauve light in the sky. In a post on X, photographer Tyler Schlitt captured the event, writing: 'Just saw STEVE with my friends here in Southern Kansas is 45 minutes north of Greensburg!' However, it soon became apparent that this was no natural phenomenon. Writing on X, Dr McDowell said: 'TLEs confirm the Zhuque-2 upper stage passed over the US Four Corners area at 0525 UTC May 17 and is the source of the unusual luminous cloud seen by many observers.' The Zhuque-2 rocket was launched by LandSpace Technology from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Area in northwest China at 04:21 UTC. Just saw STEVE with my friends here in Southern Kansas is 45 minutes north of Greensburg! #kswx @Vincent_Ledvina @evanjames_wx @TuckerWilliam88 @WickyDubs2 @AuroraNotify @spacewxwatch @TamithaSkov @AStormofPassion — TylerSchlittPhotography (@Stormchaser_TS) May 17, 2025 According to Dr McDowell's tracking, the upper stage of the rocket then passed northward over America around 05:24 UTC (11:24 local time). Unlike most rockets, LandSpace Technology uses a mixture of liquid oxygen and methane called Methalox as fuel. LandSpace Technology says it was the first company in the world to successfully launch a Methalox rocket in 2023, and this was the fifth flight of its updated Zhuque-2 rocket. Methalox is increasingly being targeted as a potential spaceflight fuel because it is cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and could potentially be produced on Mars. That would mean crewed expeditions to the red planet would be able to save weight by not bringing fuel for the return journey. There are two ways that dumping fuel can cause a glowing streak in the sky. The first is if the fuel is dumped near dawn or shortly after sunset, allowing frozen crystals of fuel to reflect the light coming over the horizon. But since this glowing streak appeared around midnight, that isn't a likely option. This plume was not an aurora, and it was not STEVE. We believe it is related to a rocket launch in China. About an hour before the plume appeared (5:39 UTC), Chinese launch startup Landspace launched the ZhuQue-2E rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (4:12 UTC). It… — Oppenheimer Ranch Project (@Diamondthedave) May 17, 2025 The second way Methalox can glow is when the fuel itself has a chemical reaction with components of the upper atmosphere. When carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen - the components of Methalox fuel - enter the charged part of the atmosphere known as the ionosphere, they can react to produce light. In 2021, a team of physicists led by Paul Bernhardt of the US Naval Research Laboratory found that a plume of fuel entering the ionosphere at night could 'yield a long-lived glow that can be observed from ground or space.' Since the rocket dumped its fuel at 155 miles (250km) in the middle of the ionosphere, these reactions might explain why the fuel trail glowed so brightly. This is not the first time that a rocket dumping its fuel has produced a spectacular display over the US. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets routinely create impressive patterns that have left observers on the ground utterly baffled. The only difference is that SpaceX's fuel dumps typically produce sprawling spiral patterns, rather than the straight, glowing streak spotted on Saturday. WHAT IS SPACE JUNK? MORE THAN 170 MILLION PIECES OF DEAD SATELLITES, SPENT ROCKETS AND FLAKES OF PAINT POSE 'THREAT' TO SPACE INDUSTRY There are an estimated 170 million pieces of so-called 'space junk' - left behind after missions that can be as big as spent rocket stages or as small as paint flakes - in orbit alongside some US$700 billion (£555bn) of space infrastructure. But only 27,000 are tracked, and with the fragments able to travel at speeds above 16,777 mph (27,000kmh), even tiny pieces could seriously damage or destroy satellites. However, traditional gripping methods don't work in space, as suction cups do not function in a vacuum and temperatures are too cold for substances like tape and glue. Grippers based around magnets are useless because most of the debris in orbit around Earth is not magnetic. Most proposed solutions, including debris harpoons, either require or cause forceful interaction with the debris, which could push those objects in unintended, unpredictable directions. Scientists point to two events that have badly worsened the problem of space junk. The first was in February 2009, when an Iridium telecoms satellite and Kosmos-2251, a Russian military satellite, accidentally collided. The second was in January 2007, when China tested an anti-satellite weapon on an old Fengyun weather satellite. Experts also pointed to two sites that have become worryingly cluttered. One is low Earth orbit which is used by satnav satellites, the ISS, China's manned missions and the Hubble telescope, among others. The other is in geostationary orbit, and is used by communications, weather and surveillance satellites that must maintain a fixed position relative to Earth.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Bright Streak Appears Over US During Aurora Storm, Mystifying Skywatchers
On the night of Saturday 17 May, skywatchers across the US as far south as New Mexico were treated to a peculiar sight: a brilliant stream of whitish light, stretching across the sky. That was a night for auroral activity, as Earth's magnetic field was buffeted by an influx of particles ejected from the Sun several days earlier. Initially, explanations favored STEVE, the name given to the white-mauve streaks of light emitted by rivers of charged particles flowing through Earth's ionosphere. STEVE is not an aurora, but, like the auroral displays it often appears alongside, is also a product of space weather. Spoiler though: the light was not actually STEVE, but a rocket stage dumping out methalox rocket fuel at an altitude of about 250 kilometers (155 miles), bang in the ionosphere, according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell, who tracks activity in Earth space. At 04:12 UTC, Beijing-based startup LandSpace Technology launched its new Zhuque-2E Y2 methane-fueled carrier rocket, bearing six satellites into Earth orbit. About an hour later, the bright stripe appeared in the sky – not far from midnight over much of the US. That stripe, according to McDowell, was the result of a fuel dump from the rocket's upper stage. Rocket fuel made from methane and liquid oxygen, known as methalox, is a relatively recent development; LandSpace was the first company to successfully launch a methalox rocket, back in 2023, and this is the fifth flight for its Zhuque-2 series, the company said in a statement. Methalox is attractive to the aerospace industry because it is cheaper, cleaner, and easier to store, and it may be able to be produced on Mars. That would make crewed missions to the red planet more efficient, since the spacecraft would not need to carry the fuel for the return journey from the outset. Rocket fuel can glow in the upper atmosphere through several mechanisms. One, seen close to twilight hours, is the illumination of ice particles by the light of the Sun. Closer to midnight, the Sun would be too far around the other side of Earth to be able to illuminate particles, even those high in the atmosphere. In the ionosphere, molecules involving carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen can generate chemical reactions that produce light. Carbon and hydrogen are the components of methane. "The reactions [of rocket fuel] with the plasma in the ionosphere include ion-molecule charge exchange, electron-ion recombination, and optical emissions from chemiluminescence," a team of physicists led by Paul Bernhardt of the US Naval Research Laboratory explained in a 2012 paper. "If the plume is fired into the ionosphere at night, chemiluminescent reactions with ion-molecule charge exchange followed by electron-ion dissociative recombination yield a long-lived glow that can be observed from ground or space." Anybody know what this light could be? byu/Ambitious_Amount_357 inAstronomy Usually, the glowing fuel of a rocket blasting into space manifests as a strange spiral in the sky. Rocket fuel masquerading as STEVE is a new experience, but it sure is pretty. Methalox is gaining traction, with more rocket companies investigating its use. Perhaps more such streaks will appear in the sky. If you see one, now you might know what you're looking at. TRAPPIST-1 Planets Could Be Swimming in Water, Study Shows Unknown Species of Bacteria Discovered in China's Space Station NASA Mission Captures Eerie New View of The Moon And Sun
Business Recorder
18-05-2025
- Science
- Business Recorder
China's LandSpace launches improved methane-powered rocket
BEIJING: A new methane-powered rocket developed by China's LandSpace Technology launched six satellites into orbit on Saturday, as the private startup doubles down on a cheap, cleaner fuel that it hopes will help it develop reusable rockets. The Zhuque-2E Y2 carrier rocket blasted off at 12:12 p.m. (0412 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, marking the fifth flight for the Zhuque-2 series, according to a company statement. Beijing-based LandSpace became the world's first company to launch a methane-liquid oxygen rocket in July 2023, ahead of US rivals including Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. Interest has grown in recent years in launching carrier vehicles fuelled by methane, which is deemed less polluting, safer and cheaper than more commonly used hydrocarbon fuels, and a suitable propellant in a reusable rocket. LandSpace has increased the rocket's payload, reflecting increasing demand in China's expanding commercial space industry amid growing competition to form a constellation of satellites as an alternative to Musk's Starlink. Its first successful methane-powered launch did not carry any real satellites, but the second launch in December 2023 successfully sent into orbit three satellites. Saturday's launch put six satellites into orbit, mainly developed by Chinese firm Spacety, also known as Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute. Li Xiaoming, the institute's vice-president, said in a livestream hosted by LandSpace before the launch that the payload comprised a radar satellite, two multispectral satellites and three satellites for scientific experiments, weighing between 20 kg and 300 kg (44-660 pounds). The three research-focussed satellites will help with China's deep-space exploration ambitions, while the pair of multispectral satellites will be dedicated to environmental monitoring and identifying mineral deposits, respectively, Li said. The radar satellite is an all-weather Earth-observation satellite that produces images during the day and night, as well as see through clouds and rain, he added. The radar satellite 'can also pick up small, millimetre-level shifts in the surface, a capability that makes it extremely useful across urban development, transportation and energy infrastructure monitoring,' said Li. Spacety was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in January 2023 for allegedly supplying a Russian company with radar satellite imagery over Ukraine, which the US said was used to enable the Russian mercenary group Wagner's combat operations in Ukraine.
