What's happened
The space race heats up as SpaceX prepares for a sixth Starship test flight on November 18, 2024, while China unveils a new design for its Long March 9 rocket, closely resembling SpaceX's Starship. Both developments signal a competitive push towards lunar exploration and beyond.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Eric Berger from Ars Technica, SpaceX's upcoming test flight on November 18 is crucial for demonstrating the Starship's capabilities, particularly its ability to relight engines in space. This is a significant step towards commercial missions, including Starlink launches. Meanwhile, the Independent reports that China's Long March 9 rocket design has evolved to closely resemble SpaceX's Starship, indicating a strategic shift in their space ambitions. The airshow presentation suggests that China plans to debut this rocket in 2033, highlighting the intensifying competition between the two nations in the race for lunar exploration.
How we got here
The ongoing competition between the US and China in space exploration has led to significant advancements in rocket technology. SpaceX's Starship has been a focal point, while China's Long March 9 is evolving to match its capabilities, aiming for a 2033 debut.
More on these topics
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Space Exploration Technologies Corp., trading as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California.
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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. Federal Government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.
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Blue Origin Federation, LLC is an American privately funded aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company headquartered in Kent, Washington.
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United Launch Alliance is an American spacecraft launch service provider that manufactures and operates a number of rocket vehicles that are capable of launching spacecraft into orbits around Earth and to other bodies in the solar system.