China launches first private liquid-fueled Tianlong-2 rocket to rival Falcon 9

Private Chinese company Space Pioneer has launched the Tianlong-2 rocket, which runs on liquid fuel. It has three stages and five engines.

Here's What We Know

Landspace could have been the first company to launch a private liquid-fueled rocket in late 2022, but failed miserably. Last week, Space Pioneer was able to successfully do what a competitor failed to do.

The Tianlong-2 rocket runs on paraffin and liquid oxygen. The first stage received three YF-102 engines, while the second and third stages each have one Tianhuo-11 and Tianhuo-31 propulsion system, respectively.

Tianlong-2 sent the Ai Taikong Kexue satellite into a solar-geosynchronous orbit. It will be engaged in Earth sensing.

Tianlong-2 will form the basis of a new rocket that will try to compete with Falcon 9. Space Pioneer, established in 2015, has already received funding to develop Tianlong-3 with a reusable first stage.

Source: scmp