In China, the private rocket company SEPOCH has successfully tested the transportation of packages from Taobao using a reusable rocket. About this informs Xinhua.
A 26.8-meter stainless steel rocket weighing 57 tons was used for the test. It flew for 125 seconds and reached a height of 2.5 kilometers, after which it successfully landed vertically on the surface of the sea near Shandong province. At the same time, the cargo compartment of the rocket with a volume of 120 cubic meters is designed for a load of up to 10 tons, which theoretically allows the transportation of cars or small trucks.
“The package has been delivered, please check! Experimental parameters show that the composition of the express delivery meets the expected standards of fire resistance, moisture resistance and cushioning”, – said SEPOCH founder Wei I.
However, he acknowledged that costs are still too high for regular consumer deliveries, so the technology will initially be used for emergencies, such as disaster relief.
“Thanks to the reusability of the rockets and the use of stainless steel, the cost of delivery will decrease significantly over time.” – concluded Wei I.
The company plans to carry out the first orbital launch by the end of 2025 with the aim of delivering 7 tons of cargo to an orbit with an altitude of 1,100 km. Work is underway to optimize the cargo compartment for transporting delicate and perishable goods. An emergency cargo rescue system is also being developed.
