Comparing the Long March 9 and Starship missiles.

Compared to the Long March 9 rocket, SpaceX's Starship launch system generates more thrust thanks to its next-generation Raptor engines.

Model of the Long March 9 rocket (left) and the Starship launch system (right) during the first test launch. Photo: Interesting Engineering — Model of the Long March 9 rocket (left) and the Starship launch system (right) during the first test launch. Photo: *Interesting Engineering*

China recently announced a change in plans for its next-generation Long March 9 rocket. The super-heavy rocket used for launching deep-space missions will no longer be disposable. Instead, like SpaceX's Starship launch system, it will be a fully reusable rocket, reducing the cost of consecutive missions.

The announcement of China's Long March 9 rocket was somewhat overshadowed by the successful, albeit explosive, first launch of SpaceX's Starship rocket. The announcement came at the end of April on China's National Space Day in Hefei, Anhui province, just days after Starship's maiden flight on April 20th.

The Long March 9 rocket is being developed by the Chinese Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). It will be a three-stage rocket powered by several full-cycle methane internal combustion engines attached to the first stage. If all goes according to plan, CALT also aims to build a two-stage version of the Long March 9 for low Earth orbit (LEO) missions. This represents a major shift for China from its initial plan to build a single-use Long March 9 rocket equipped with a 500-ton kerosene-liquid oxygen propulsion system. This rocket model was projected to fly around 2028-2030. Currently, a Long March 9 version similar to Starship requires several more years of development.

Clearly, both China and the world are closely monitoring the development of the fully reusable Starship launch system. In fact, CATL recently released frame-by-frame video analysis of the launch. Earlier this year, the European Space Agency released a report emphasizing that Europe needs to invest more in the space industry if it doesn't want to fall behind.

The most important numbers when comparing Long March 9 and Starship are the development timelines of each rocket system. The Starship launch may have been delayed several times, but SpaceX is still at the forefront and creating breakthroughs, bringing unprecedented capabilities to the space industry.

Although SpaceX may need to wait a while before receiving approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a second test launch, the company is using a "failure is the mother of success" approach to quickly refine the design. Starship will carry crewed astronauts into space in the near future. While launch dates frequently change, Starship is tasked with the dearMoon mission, scheduled for later this year, as well as landing on the Moon as part of NASA's Artemis 3 mission in 2025 or 2026.

Compared to Starship, China is aiming for 2023 for the first flight of the Long March 9. However, the country will build several versions, and the first prototype will only have a reusable first stage, capable of carrying 35 tons to a lunar transfer orbit. According to SpaceNews, a fully reusable version of the Long March 9 will not take off until 2040. That version could carry 80 tons to LEO. In terms of payload, Starship is expected to carry 100-150 tons to LEO when fully operational in the near future.

The initial version of the Long March 9 will be 114 feet tall and generate 6,100 tons of thrust. Meanwhile, Starship will be 120 feet tall and produce 7,590 tons of thrust at liftoff. The greater power of the Starship launch system comes in part from its next-generation Raptor engines. The first stage, called Super Heavy, uses 33 Raptor engines to provide the enormous thrust.

China's decision to change the design of its Long March 9 rocket could slow plans to launch the International Lunar Research Space Station (ILRS) to compete with NASA's Gateway project. China is also developing the Long March 10 rocket, which could make its maiden flight in 2017. If all goes according to plan with the Long March 10, China hopes to send astronauts to the surface of the Moon before 2030.

An Khang (According to Interesting Engineering )

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