China’s attempt to launch a privately developed carrier rocket into space was a failure. The Zhuque-1, or ZQ-1, which was designed capable of…
China’s attempt to launch a privately developed carrier rocket into space was a failure.
The Zhuque-1, or ZQ-1, which was designed capable of carrying a satellite into space, was the first three-stage rocket built by a private company in China.
Landscape said in statement posted on its official WeChat account that the spacecraft failed to reach orbit because of an issue with the third stage. It said that the problem with the rocket occurred soon after the second stage separation.
The company nonetheless said that it still considers the mission completed.
“Before Zhuque carrier rocket was launched, its mission was already completed,” the company said without providing further details.
Landscape was founded in 2015 and aimed to become the first Chine private company to launch a satellite into orbit. The company claims to be the first private licensed company in China to launch a carrier rocket.
It was Landscape’s first attempt to build a rocket, and despite the incident, the company said that it will continue to build rockets.
Space New s said that the 27-metric ton rocket is 19 meters tall and spans 1.3 meter in diameter. It cost around $14 million to develop and received funding from private sector and partly-state-owned backers.
It may still be a long way to go before private companies in China can compete well with space companies in the United States.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, is in fact already setting his eyes on sending a spacecraft to planet Mars. His company has on its belt a number of successful missions to the International Space Station and has successfully reused rockets.
Earlier this year, SpaceX also made history when it launched Musk’s cherry-red Tesla Roadster into space on course to the asteroid belt.
