Two Chinese companies test reusable rocket technology
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One company, Space Transportation, tested on April 22 a design for launching its first stage vertically and then landinf it on a runway.
The joint flight was to test the performance of the dual waverider forebody configuration designed by Xiamen University’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and to verify the rocket recovery and reuse technology, according to Xinhua. The 8.7-meter-long Jiageng-1 has a wingspan of 2.5 meters and part of development of the larger, future Tianxing-I-1 vertical takeoff, horizontal landing reusable launch vehicle.
Beijing-based Space Transportation, founded in August 2018 and also known as Lingkong Tianxing, received backing worth several million U.S. dollars from Source Code Capital earlier this year. [emphasis mine]
The second company, Linkspace, did on April 19th a untethered vertical take off and landing of a small prototype first stage, getting about 130 feet off the ground.
The highlighted words above are intriguing. I did not think it was legal for American investors to invest in Chinese rocket companies.
Please consider donating to Behind the Black, by giving either a one-time contribution or a regular subscription, as outlined in the tip jar below. Your support will allow me to continue covering science and culture as I have for the past twenty years, independent and free from any outside influence.
Regular readers can support Behind The Black with a contribution via paypal:
If Paypal doesn't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
Link here.
One company, Space Transportation, tested on April 22 a design for launching its first stage vertically and then landinf it on a runway.
The joint flight was to test the performance of the dual waverider forebody configuration designed by Xiamen University’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and to verify the rocket recovery and reuse technology, according to Xinhua. The 8.7-meter-long Jiageng-1 has a wingspan of 2.5 meters and part of development of the larger, future Tianxing-I-1 vertical takeoff, horizontal landing reusable launch vehicle.
Beijing-based Space Transportation, founded in August 2018 and also known as Lingkong Tianxing, received backing worth several million U.S. dollars from Source Code Capital earlier this year. [emphasis mine]
The second company, Linkspace, did on April 19th a untethered vertical take off and landing of a small prototype first stage, getting about 130 feet off the ground.
The highlighted words above are intriguing. I did not think it was legal for American investors to invest in Chinese rocket companies.
“When we hang the last capitalists, they will sell us the rope”. Unfortunately, Bob, there are always those whose wish to make money makes them morally and ethically blind and so indifferent to the consequences of their actions that they will find ways to get around any sanctions. Why do you think Wall Street pays people in their twenties who have graduated from the top law schools six figure salaries ? Because they are expected to be clever at coming up with ways of violating the spirit of the law while not technically violating it.
Col Beausabre: See this story: Boeing cancels satellite deal involving hidden China funding
The legal difference here might because in the Boeing case, Boeing got Chinese money, while it was American money that went to a Chinese company in the story today. This could make all the difference legally.
Looking at their website, Source Code Capital is a Chinese concern.
https://sourcecodecap.com/en/
The backing was worth several million US dollars but wasn’t necessarily provided in US dollars.
Mitch
Good stuff.
They list their street address as:
Room 2603, T1, Poly International Plaza, Zone 7,
Wangjing East Park, Chaoyang District, Beijing China (100102)