This past weekend, according to a report from SpaceNews, the Chinese commercial space company Space Pioneer became the first startup to successfully enter orbit on its first attempt.
It also made history by becoming the first Chinese corporation to use liquid rocket propulsion to enter orbit. On Sunday, April 2, at 4:48 a.m. ET, the company’s rocket, Tianlong-2, blasted out from the Jiuquan launch facility in northwest China.
The Tianlong-2 rocket from Beijing-based Space Pioneer was used to launch a small satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit. Officially known as Beijing Tianbing Technology Co., the organisation made history by successfully launching a liquid-fueled rocket.
Tianlong-2 uses liquid oxygen kerosene, whereas China’s space administration typically uses solid propellants made from fuel and oxidizers. Liquid propellants are better suited to reusability, one of Space Pioneer’s ultimate goals.
