Chinese launch firm secures fresh funding for reusable rocket
Summary
In February the firm announced it had secured B+ and Pre-C strategic funding rounds.A number of the leading investors are linked to the Chinese state. If successful, Space Pioneer claims it will be able to launch 30 times per year from 2025.Tianlong-3 (Sky Dragon-3) is a two-stage kerosene-liquid oxygen rocket with a reusable first stage. Previously, many commercial Chinese rockets used 2.25 or 3.35-meter-diameter stages, the dimensions as those of most Long March rockets.The Tianlong-3 is, according to Space Pioneer, tailor-made for launching satellites for Chinas national communications megaconstellation. This shift has been initiated by the emergence of the possibility of contracts for Guowang and commercial cargo missions.Space Pioneer says it has already signed 10 orders for launches on the Tianlong-2.The company also has plans for a Tianlong-3H, a triple-core version in the same style as the SpaceX Falcon Heavy, and the Tianlong-3M, a single core rocket tipped with a reusable spaceplane.Space Pioneer initially started out developing engines burning green monopropellant before changing direction. Airspace closure notices indicate a launch window of 1:53 a.m. to 4:14 a.m. Eastern July 12.Beijing-based iSpace also recently tested engines for its Hyperbola-2 methalox launcher.