China to Deploy Maglev Rocket Launch Pad by 2028, Competing with SpaceX
China is developing a maglev rocket launch pad aimed for deployment by 2028, utilizing electromagnetic force to propel rockets at supersonic speeds before ignition. This project, backed by Sichuan’s government and CASIC, intends to enhance payload capacity, lower launch costs, and compete with SpaceX in the space exploration sector.
In an effort to contest the longstanding dominance of the United States in space exploration, China is advancing a revolutionary rocket launch system that employs electromagnetic force rather than traditional rocket propulsion. This innovative approach aims to propel satellites into orbit with enhanced speed and efficiency.
The initiative is being developed in collaboration with state-supported research institutes located in Sichuan province. The system utilizes superconducting magnets, effectively accelerating rockets to supersonic speeds prior to ignition, an operation reminiscent of launching a vertical maglev train.
The Ziyang government in Sichuan and the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) are currently engaged in trials of the nation’s first electromagnetic launch verification platform. As reported by Sichuan Radio and Television, they are targeting a launch within the next three years, aiming to achieve speeds exceeding Mach 1, thereby optimizing fuel consumption at the flight’s inception.
This technology harbors the potential to double payload capacity while significantly reducing launch costs, as indicated by Li Ping, the president of the Ziyang Commercial Space Launch Technology Research Institute. Furthermore, Li noted that the launch track would need far less maintenance than conventional launch pads, allowing for more frequent rocket launches.
If this ambitious project succeeds, it may provide China with a competitive advantage in the global space industry, directly challenging established American space companies such as SpaceX.
China is poised to introduce a revolutionary rocket launch system by 2028, utilizing electromagnetic propulsion. This advancement is designed to challenge the established space dominance of the United States. With its potential to improve payload capacity and reduce costs, alongside offering a more frequent launch schedule, this initiative could significantly alter the competitive dynamics in the aerospace sector.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
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