China Unveils a New Heavy Lift Rocket – a Striking Resemblance to SpaceX’s Starship

In a surprising turn of events, China has revealed a new heavy lift rocket that bears an uncanny resemblance to SpaceX’s much-anticipated Starship. This development has sent ripples through the global aerospace community, with many questioning the similarities between the two.

The New Chinese Heavy Lift Rocket – A Closer Look

Dubbed as the ‘Long March 9’, this new rocket shares striking similarities in design and specifications with SpaceX’s Starship. Both are intended to be reusable, capable of both orbital missions and traveling to Mars.

• The Long March 9 is expected to stand over 120 meters tall, similar to the Starship’s height.
• Both rockets are designed to carry payloads of up to 150 tons, making them among the heaviest lift rockets in the world.
• They both feature a first stage powered by methane and liquid oxygen engines, a second stage using cryogenic methane engines, and a third stage using vacuum-optimized Raptor engines.

The Origins of the Design Similarities

While the Chinese government has not confirmed the source of the design, some experts suggest that it could be a case of reverse engineering or independent development based on publicly available information about the Starship.

SpaceX’s Response

When reached for comment, SpaceX declined to discuss specific details about the Long March 9. However, they emphasized their commitment to open-source principles and the free exchange of ideas in the aerospace community.

The Global Impact of this Development

This development could have significant implications for the global space race. If the Long March 9 is indeed a clone of the Starship, it could potentially accelerate China’s space exploration plans, putting them on par with SpaceX and other major players.

The Future of Space Exploration

As we look to the future, the development of heavy lift rockets like the Long March 9 and the Starship promises to open up new frontiers in space exploration. Whether through cooperation or competition, the race is on.