China is pouring billions into its military-run space programme, with hopes of having a crewed space station by 2022. (Photo: AFP)
Channel News Asia/AFP: China aims to outstrip NASA with super-powerful rocket
BEIJING: China is working on a super-powerful rocket that would be capable of delivering heavier payloads into low orbit than NASA, a leading Chinese space expert was quoted as saying Monday (Jul 2).
By 2030, the Long March-9 rocket under development will be able to carry 140 tonnes into low-Earth orbit - where TV and earth observation satellites currently fly - said Long Lehao, a senior official from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
This compares to the 20 tonnes deliverable by Europe's Ariane 5 rocket or the 64 tonnes by Elon Musk's Falcon Heavy, which in February catapulted one of the US entrepreneur's red Tesla Roadster cars towards Mars.
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WNU Editor: China has made no secret that they want to have a top notch space program, and they are pouring the resources and billions in dollars to achieve it. Having a powerful rocket is certainly one of he needed steps that they must accomplish to make this happen.
