A CHINESE startup has set an ambitious timetable in the country’s race to develop reusable rockets, a technology pioneered by SpaceX and used by Elon Musk’s company to lower costs and dominate the global industry for satellite launches. Beijing-based Orienspace, which last month conducted its first launch of a single-use rocket, is developing the reusable Gravity-2 and expects the rocket’s maiden flight to take place in late 2025 or early 2026, co-founder and co-chief executive officer Yao Song said. Other Chinese companies competing to achieve reusability include Beijing Interstellar Glory Space Technology, a startup known as i-Space, which staged a test in December. Meanwhile, a subsidiary of State-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. last month conducted a vertical takeoff and landing test of its reusable Kuaizhou rocket. Reusable rockets are transforming space access because they allow companies to utilize some of the most expensive parts of the device over and over, with little refurbishment. While Musk’s SpaceX remains far and away the global leader in the field, the Jeff Bezos-founded Blue Origin LLC is pushing ahead with plans to launch the reusable New Glenn rocket this year. While Chinese firms, including startups and State-owned enterprises, launched nearly 70 rockets last year, all of the vehicles were single-use. During that time, SpaceX had nearly 100 launches of its reusable rockets. As well as working on its reusable target, Orienspace last month launched its first sea-based rocket, which Yao said offers flexibility and convenience for companies looking for ways to increase launch frequency at a lower cost. An offshore launch “can save a month of time and millions of yuan in logistics costs for each rocket,” he said. “This is a significant improvement in business efficiency.” (SD-Agencies) | 