Space Epoch, Alibaba to use rockets in goods delivery

Chinese rocket maker Space Epoch is collaborating with Alibaba’s online shopping platform Taobao to develop reusable rockets for express deliveries that could reach globally within an hour, Reuters reported on Sunday.

The project is currently in its early trial stages and aims to create a rocket capable of transporting up to ten tonnes of cargo in a 120 cubic-metre container, according to a notice posted on Space Epoch’s official WeChat social media account.

Alibaba has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Based in Beijing, Space Epoch plans to utilise its ‘Yuanxing-1’ rocket, which successfully completed ignition and offshore recovery tests last year.

The company is preparing to conduct rocket delivery tests soon, acknowledging that achieving its objectives will be challenging in the short term.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasised the importance of expanding strategic industries, including the commercial space sector, which is crucial for developing satellite constellations for communication, remote sensing, and navigation.

In 2021, China conducted 17 commercial launches with one failure, contributing to a new record of 67 orbital launches by China. This marked an increase from 10 commercial launches in 2020, which included two failures.

Space Epoch raised 200 million yuan ($27.70 million) in its third financing round last November.

(1 United States dollar = 7.2203 Chinese yuan)