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BEIJING (AFP) – China is working on a super-powerful rocket that would be capable of delivering heavier payloads to low orbit than Nasa, a leading Chinese space expert was quoted as saying on Monday (July 2).
By 2030, the Long March-9 rocket under development will be able to carry 140 tons into low-Earth orbit – where TV and earth observation satellites currently fly – said Mr Long Lehao, a senior official of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, according to
This compares to the 20-ton deliverable by Europe's Ariane 5 rocket, or the 64-ton by Mr Elon Musk's Falcon Heavy, which in January catapulted one of the US contractor's red Tesla Roadster cars towards Mars. 19659004] It would also outstrip the 130 tons of NASA's Space Launch System, which is due to become operational in 2020.
China's Long March-9 would have a core stage measuring 10 meters in diameter and boast four powerful boosters, each with at diameter of 5m.
Xinhua quoted Mr Long as saying the rocket could be used in manned lunar landings, deep space exploration or constructing a space-based solar power plant.
In addition, China is working on a reusable space rocket (19659002) The first stage and the boosters will be retrieved after a vertical landing, Mr Long said in a speech in Beijing.
China is pouring billions into its military-run space program, with hopes of having a crew station by 2022, and of sending humans to the moon in the future.
The Asian superpower is looking to finally catch up with the US and Russia after years of belatedly matching their space milestones.
China is also planning to build a base on the moon, the state-run Global Times said in early March, citing the Communist Party chief of the China Academy of Space Technology.
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