/sci/ - Science & Math

>>11123354
Also, what's your opinion on the Long March 9? Will it ever fly? I've known of this rocket since 2005 i think, and it's still just at the CGI model stage.

Their currently building components of it (http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1143520.shtml)), but their not rushing the development. After all, It’s a niche rocket designed solely for launching heavy payloads (50 tons) to the Moon and maybe Mars. They’ve been developing a completely different family of rockets (not LM) to transport crew to the Moon, which very much exists in the physical form (pic related).

>Chinas SpaceX, whatever company that ends up being, is going to pull a Starship on them.

No, a couple of China’s ‘private’ companies (e.g. LinkSpace) are planning on building small reusable rockets, but nobody’s building large, crumpled steel cans (>>11123262) in fields. Two of China’s state-owned rocket construction bureaus are subsequently working on Falcon-9-style rockets: the Long March 8 and 6A. They’ve recently been testing grid fins on expendable launches.