The time will come when the delivery of goods from China will be reduced to a few hours - without the need to pre-create on-site warehouses. Reusable rockets will help with this: an agreement for such a project has already been concluded between Alibaba and rocket startup Space Epoch. On May 28, 2025, Space Epoch launched its first reusable stainless steel rocket, which will one day be able to deliver up to 10 tons of cargo to any point on Earth in just an hour.
Space Epoch (also known as Sepoch and Beijing Jianyuan Technology) conducted the first static fire test of the reusable first stage XZH-1 D1 in January 2023. The rocket is equipped with a Longyun-70 liquid methane and liquid oxygen rocket engine developed by Jiuzhou Yunjian (JZYJ). The first suborbital launch was expected before the end of 2023, but was postponed for unclear reasons. The successful recent launch of the prototype paves the way for a full-fledged space launch by the end of 2025.
According to Space Epoch, thin-walled stainless steel was used to create the prototype. The diameter of the rocket was 4.2 m, the height - 26.8 m, and the takeoff weight - about 57 tons. The test lasted 125 seconds and was carried out at an altitude of up to 2.5 km. The rocket took off with thrust control, shut down its engines, free-fall briefly, then restarted its engines, slowed down, and landed softly in coastal waters near the launch pad.
In the future, the Hiker-1 (YXZ-1) or Yuanxingzhe-1 rocket will be able to launch up to 11 tons of payload into medium-altitude orbits or deliver up to 10 tons in 120 m³ containers to any continent - if someone decides to accept the rocket from China. In addition to its partnership with Alibaba, Space Epoch has entered into a strategic agreement with satellite operator Shifang Xinglian to build a constellation of satellites in medium-Earth orbit.
The test of the Hiker-1 reusable rocket prototype was the first of its kind in China this year. About half a dozen Chinese companies are actively pursuing this direction, including Landspace with the Zhuque-3 rocket, SAST with the Long March-12A, Space Pioneer with the Tianlong-3, iSpace with the Hyperbola-3, and Galactic Energy with the Pallas-1. They all plan to launch reusable rockets at various altitudes this year. This is no longer Elon Musk's personal show - China is clearly trying to take the initiative.
Official video: https://t.co/Bmhdtg3yYi pic.twitter.com/oP4MYVqrai
— Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) May 29, 2025