Latest News

China start-up's kerosene-powered rocket fails test flight

China's Deep Blue Aerospace said on Sunday its firstofitskind recyclable kerosenefuelled rocket, Nebula1, stopped working to complete a highaltitude vertical recovery test flight in the nation's northern area of Inner Mongolia, crashing at the final stage.

The personal rocket startup's spacecraft finished 10 of its 11 tasks, the company said in a declaration, with its three thrusters igniting as normal and launching the Nebula-1 high into the sky. 2 of its engines then disengaged, as planned, and the rocket started its descent.

But as the Nebula-1 was re-approaching its launch pad, its landing system stopped working and it touched down too hard, leading to the rocket's top part snapping off as it was up to its side and fire damage to its exterior, pictures of the test showed.

Financiers and rocket developers have actually said alternative fuels such as kerosene, methane and liquid oxygen could help slash expenses and allow rockets to be introduced in a cleaner and more effective way.

Numerous personal Chinese rocket startups have actually tested different spacecraft over the past year, aiming to prepare their products for the increasing need in China's broadening commercial area market, in the middle of growing competition to form a constellation of satellites as an option to Elon Musk's Starlink.

(source: Reuters)