LANDSPACE TECH SENDS 6 SATELLITES INTO ORBIT

China closing in on reusable rockets

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>>BEIJING: A new methane-powered rocket developed by China's LandSpace Technology launched six satellites into orbit yesterday, doubling down on a cheap, cleaner fuel that the private startup hopes will help it develop reusable rockets.

The Zhuque-2E Y2 carrier rocket blasted off at 12.12pm (local time) 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.