<p>Beating Elon Musk’s SpaceX, a Chinese aerospace company called LandSpace has successfully launched a rocket using methane and liquid oxygen. The rocket, called Zhuque-2, blasted off Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi desert. It successfully deposited a test payload into the sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). LandSpace has become the first aerospace company to achieve this feat globally.</p>

<p>Wednesday’s launch marked the second lift-off attempt for Zhuque-2 after its first launch failed in December last year.</p>

<h2><strong>Why Methane-powered engines are sought after?</strong></h2>

<p>Methane-powered engines are crucial for the aerospace industry as they offer lucrative business prospects. Such engines are highly sought after because of their high performance and low operational cost. Notably, methane can be produced in space itself by synthesising water and carbon dioxide.</p>

<p>This technology is even more suitable for reusable rockets, making it the front-running design in the new era of rocketry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This year so far, two launch attempts with the use of methane-powered engines have already ended in failure. Two methane-powered rockets, the Terran 1 from Relativity Space in the US and SpaceX’s Starship, failed to reach space in their maiden attempts.</p>

<h2><strong>Chinese aerospace industry on a roll</strong></h2>

<p>Beijing Tianbing Technology Co, another Chinese aerospace company, made history in April this year by becoming the first private sector company in the world to reach orbit in its first try. It launched its first rocket Tianlong-2 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, and successfully deposited a small remote-sensing satellite into sun-synchronous orbit.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India aims for the moon again: ISRO says Chandrayaan 3 good to go</strong></p>

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<p>Now, the remarkable achievement around the methane-powered rocket tech by another Chinese company shows the country’s aerospace sector has really been firing all cylinders.</p>

<h2><strong>Is India also developing methane-powered engines?</strong></h2>

<p>According to a senior official from ISRO, the agency is currently working on two engines known as "LOx methane" engines. These engines utilise liquid oxygen as the oxidiser and methane as the fuel.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chandrayaan-3-spacecraft-ready-to-be-encapsulated-into-rocket-says-isro-608988"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft ready to be encapsulated into rocket, says ISRO</strong></a></p>

<p>The first project focuses on converting the existing cryogenic engine, which currently uses liquid hydrogen as fuel, into a LOx methane engine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The second project aims to develop a smaller engine with a thrust capacity of three&nbsp;tonnes, featuring an electric motor. These projects are being carried out at ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre located in Trivandrum.</p>

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Beating Elon Musk’s SpaceX, a Chinese aerospace company called LandSpace has successfully launched a rocket using methane and liquid oxygen. The rocket, called Zhuque-2, blasted off Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi desert.

Beating Elon Musk’s SpaceX, a Chinese aerospace company called LandSpace has successfully launched a rocket using methane and liquid oxygen. The rocket, called Zhuque-2, blasted off Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi desert. It successfully deposited a test payload into the sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). LandSpace has become the first aerospace company to achieve this feat globally. Wednesday’s launch marked the second lift-off attempt for Zhuque-2 after its first launch failed in December last year. Why Methane-powered engines are sought after? Methane-powered engines are crucial for the aerospace industry as they offer lucrative business prospects. Such engines are highly sought after because of their high performance and low operational cost. Notably, methane can be produced in space itself by synthesising water and carbon dioxide. This technology is even more suitable for reusable rockets, making it the front-running design in the new era of rocketry. This year so far, two launch attempts with the use of methane-powered engines have already ended in failure. Two methane-powered rockets, the Terran 1 from Relativity Space in the US and SpaceX’s Starship, failed to reach space in their maiden attempts. Chinese aerospace industry on a roll Beijing Tianbing Technology Co, another Chinese aerospace company, made history in April this year by becoming the first private sector company in the world to reach orbit in its first try. It launched its first rocket Tianlong-2 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, and successfully deposited a small remote-sensing satellite into sun-synchronous orbit. Watch: India aims for the moon again: ISRO says Chandrayaan 3 good to go × Now, the remarkable achievement around the methane-powered rocket tech by another Chinese company shows the country’s aerospace sector has really been firing all cylinders. Is India also developing methane-powered engines? According to a senior official from ISRO, the agency is currently working on two engines known as "LOx methane" engines. These engines utilise liquid oxygen as the oxidiser and methane as the fuel. Also read: Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft ready to be encapsulated into rocket, says ISRO The first project focuses on converting the existing cryogenic engine, which currently uses liquid hydrogen as fuel, into a LOx methane engine. The second project aims to develop a smaller engine with a thrust capacity of three tonnes, featuring an electric motor. These projects are being carried out at ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre located in Trivandrum. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

China defeats SpaceX to successfully launch world’s first methane-powered rocket

<p>Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and Russia&rsquo;s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) are investing up to $20 billion to develop a long-haul jet.</p>

<p>COMAC said in a statement that the two countries would develop a 280-seat wide-body plane with a range of 12,000 kilometres. Beijing aims at challenging leading Western manufacturers Boeing and Airbus with their&nbsp;project which will be set up in Shanghai this year.</p>

<p>The jet make its maiden flight in seven years, COMAC said. Deliveries will begin three years after that.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The project is worth between $13 billion and $20 billion, with each side contributing half, Global Times, China&#39;s state-run newspaper quoted UAC president Yury Slyusar as saying.</p>

<p>&ldquo;COMAC has outstanding technology and designs and we will not only cooperate in technology but also in intellectual property,&rdquo; Slyusar told the newspaper at the China Airshow in Zhuhai, adding that the plane will be 10 percent cheaper than its competitors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The listed price of a 280-seat Airbus A350 is $272.4 million, while a 290-seat Boeing 787 costs $264.6 million.</p>

<p>The hugely ambitious plan was first agreed upon in June when Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, AFP reported.</p>

<p>Previous Chinese aerospace projects have suffered lengthy delays because of the challenges of developing a commercial aircraft.</p>

<p>COMAC said it will keep the project open and select global suppliers that are willing to &ldquo;jointly shoulder risks,&quot; AFP reported.</p>

<p>Beijing, which aims at becoming the world&#39;s largest aviation market, is looking to build up its domestic aerospace industry. The sector is among those highlighted in its &ldquo;Made in China 2025&rdquo; plan.</p>

<p>Airbus estimates China will need nearly 6,000 new planes worth $945 billion in the next two decades, thanks to an ever-increasing number of travellers taking to the skies. Boeing&#39;s forecast of more than $1 trillion is even more optimistic&nbsp;</p>

<p>COMAC is also developing its own single-aisle jet, the C919. It rolled it out last year and even though it has yet to make its first flight, it has so far received 570 orders from 23 customers, AFP quoted COMAC as saying.</p>

<p>The firm&#39;s regional jet, the 90-seat ARJ21, flew its first commercial flight in June after years of delays.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from AFP)</p>

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The two countries are investing up to $20 billion in long-haul jet which has a range of 12,000 kms

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) are investing up to $20 billion to develop a long-haul jet. COMAC said in a statement that the two countries would develop a 280-seat wide-body plane with a range of 12,000 kilometres. Beijing aims at challenging leading Western manufacturers Boeing and Airbus with their project which will be set up in Shanghai this year. The jet make its maiden flight in seven years, COMAC said. Deliveries will begin three years after that. The project is worth between $13 billion and $20 billion, with each side contributing half, Global Times, China's state-run newspaper quoted UAC president Yury Slyusar as saying. “COMAC has outstanding technology and designs and we will not only cooperate in technology but also in intellectual property,” Slyusar told the newspaper at the China Airshow in Zhuhai, adding that the plane will be 10 percent cheaper than its competitors. The listed price of a 280-seat Airbus A350 is $272.4 million, while a 290-seat Boeing 787 costs $264.6 million. The hugely ambitious plan was first agreed upon in June when Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, AFP reported. Previous Chinese aerospace projects have suffered lengthy delays because of the challenges of developing a commercial aircraft. COMAC said it will keep the project open and select global suppliers that are willing to “jointly shoulder risks," AFP reported. Beijing, which aims at becoming the world's largest aviation market, is looking to build up its domestic aerospace industry. The sector is among those highlighted in its “Made in China 2025” plan. Airbus estimates China will need nearly 6,000 new planes worth $945 billion in the next two decades, thanks to an ever-increasing number of travellers taking to the skies. Boeing's forecast of more than $1 trillion is even more optimistic COMAC is also developing its own single-aisle jet, the C919. It rolled it out last year and even though it has yet to make its first flight, it has so far received 570 orders from 23 customers, AFP quoted COMAC as saying. The firm's regional jet, the 90-seat ARJ21, flew its first commercial flight in June after years of delays. (WION with inputs from AFP)

China, Russia developing jet to compete with Boeing and Airbus

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China defeats SpaceX to successfully launch world’s first methane-powered rocket

China, Russia developing jet to compete with Boeing and Airbus