Photo shows the model of the Hyperbola-2, a reusable rocket developed by a private Chinese company. (Photo provided to Xinhua)
A Chinese reusable carrier rocket that uses liquid oxygen-methane propellants will be launched for the first time in 2021, making up for China's lack of reusable liquid-propellant rockets.
BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese reusable carrier rocket that uses liquid oxygen-methane propellants will be launched for the first time in 2021.
The rocket, named the Hyperbola-2, may make up for China's lack of reusable liquid-propellant rockets.
The model of the rocket was on display at the 2019 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing last week.
The Hyperbola-2 was developed by a Beijing-based private rocket developer i-Space. Its primary stage can be reused, reducing more than 70 percent of the rocket production cost, according to Dong Yanmin, the company's vice president of technology.
It will not only meet the growing demand for small and medium-sized satellite launches but also provide emergency and ride-share launches, Dong said.
This diagram shows the structure of the Hyperbola-2. (Photo provided to Xinhua)
The 28-meter-long rocket, with a takeoff weight of 90 tonnes, has a lift capability of sending 1.9 tonnes of payload to low-Earth orbit.
The rocket is low-cost and reliable, which can provide high-quality satellite launches, Dong said. ■
