Yeah those tests are why I put them at the falcon 1 test flight stage generously. It was 10 years from the last flight of falcon 1 to the first flight of falcon 9 block 5, which is where reusability really started to kick in.
Sure there is a follower advantage, but I don’t know if they can make full use of it since they won’t be able to head hunt talent as much as a US company. Itar might also make it more difficult to use the same suppliers and methodology for a more direct copy.
I’m sure they’ll come up with something pretty cheap eventually, but I think it’ll still take a while for economic rapid reuse.
It will take a few years to develop, but as I’ve already pointed out, China has a good track record of producing advanced technology much faster than anybody expected. Meanwhile, if there is strategic value in having these types of low orbit constellations then the government will eat the cost until reusable rockets become available.
Yeah I suspect that’s what will happen. They’ll launch these satellites on their non-reusable long matches until they eventually have a cheaper reusable capability. I guess we’ll see how long that will be.
Yeah those tests are why I put them at the falcon 1 test flight stage generously. It was 10 years from the last flight of falcon 1 to the first flight of falcon 9 block 5, which is where reusability really started to kick in.
Sure there is a follower advantage, but I don’t know if they can make full use of it since they won’t be able to head hunt talent as much as a US company. Itar might also make it more difficult to use the same suppliers and methodology for a more direct copy.
I’m sure they’ll come up with something pretty cheap eventually, but I think it’ll still take a while for economic rapid reuse.
It will take a few years to develop, but as I’ve already pointed out, China has a good track record of producing advanced technology much faster than anybody expected. Meanwhile, if there is strategic value in having these types of low orbit constellations then the government will eat the cost until reusable rockets become available.
Yeah I suspect that’s what will happen. They’ll launch these satellites on their non-reusable long matches until they eventually have a cheaper reusable capability. I guess we’ll see how long that will be.
What’s the strategy? For what goal?
Same as what US is using them for in Ukraine for example.