Ambitious Reusable iSpace Chinese Rocket Test Successfully Launched

• 3 December 2023
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China’s leading private space company, Beijing Interstellar Glory Space Technology Ltd., commonly known as iSpace, achieved a milestone on 2 November 2023 according to Space News. The company successfully launched and safely landed a test article known as the Hyperbola-2Y single-stage hopper at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, a significant step towards China’s ambition to develop a reusable medium-lift rocket by 2025.​

The Hyperbola-2 methane-liquid oxygen reusable verification stage exhibited its prowess as it ascended to an impressive height of 178 metres during its 51-second flight. Executing a controlled powered descent, it gently touched down, supported by four landing legs. This 3.35-metre-diameter, 17-metre-long test stage is powered by the variable thrust Focus-1 engine.

This vertical take-off, vertical landing test is a substantial leap in iSpace’s quest to introduce a reusable medium-lift rocket by 2025, placing it firmly within the ranks of China’s endeavours to replicate the accomplishments of SpaceX and its renowned Falcon 9 rocket.

An elated iSpace issued a statement heralding this achievement as a “breakthrough in China’s commercial aerospace industry in reusable launch vehicle technology.” The company is poised to push the boundaries, aiming for the first flight of the Hyperbola-3 rocket with a 13.4-metric-ton capacity to low Earth orbit (LEO) in 2025. A reuse demonstration is expected in 2026, with the 69-metre-long rocket primed to hoist 8.5 tons to LEO in a reusable mode. iSpace’s vision extends to conducting a remarkable 25 Hyperbola-3 launches annually by 2030.

It’s essential to acknowledge iSpace’s pioneering spirit, as they made history in 2019 by becoming the first privately-funded Chinese company to reach orbit, utilising the solid-fuelled Hyperbola-1 rocket. While they did face three consecutive challenges with the rocket, the company successfully returned to flight earlier this year. More launches of the solid rocket are on the horizon in the coming year, despite the competition from other entities in the field.

Moreover, iSpace is not the sole Chinese enterprise venturing into the realm of reusable rockets. Galactic Energy, CAS Space, and Deep Blue Aerospace are among those contributing to China’s rapid advancements in the aerospace sector. With their innovative approaches, they are collectively propelling China’s ambitions to compete on the global stage in the field of reusable launch vehicles.

• Technology and Engineering