The new Long March rocket and commercially developed carrier rocket are expected to be launched for the first time in 2025, thereby enhancing China's overall carrying capacity. Multiple launch vehicles will be reusable or retrofitted for reuse. These launch vehicles will compete for contracts to launch satellites for China's large-scale constellation programs, Qianfan and State Grid, as well as for space station cargo missions and commercial and other contracts, helping to enhance China's ability to enter space in the coming years. The first batch of Long March 8A carrier rockets to be launched will include the Long March 8A carrier rocket, which is a modification of the existing Long March 8 and increases the payload capacity of the 700 kilometer sun synchronous orbit from 5 tons to 7 tons. The rocket was developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation First Institute, a major state-owned aerospace contractor in China. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has established new facilities to promote the production of YF-100 engines, which provide power for the Long March 8A carrier rocket. Blue Arrow Aerospace, one of China's first commercial launch companies, is preparing to launch its Zhuque-3 carrier rocket in 2025. In 2024, this rocket underwent a "vertical takeoff and landing" test. The diameter of the Zhuque No. 3 arrow is 4.5 meters, and the total length of the arrow is 76.6 meters. The mass at launch is about 660 tons, and the takeoff thrust is about 900 tons. The low orbit carrying capacity for a one-time mission is 21.3 tons, and the airspace recovery mission is 18.3 tons. The commercial organization Star River Power Company is planning to launch its first Zhishenxing-1 rocket, which is a kerosene liquid oxygen rocket that will eventually be modified into a reusable first stage. According to the company's website, its low orbit carrying capacity is 8 tons. Star River Power Company stated that the final assembly of the first Zhishenxing-1 rocket is currently underway. It is expected to be launched into space at the new facility of Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Experimental Zone in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Star River Power also plans to launch the first launch of the Ceres 2 rocket in the first half of 2025, which is an upgraded version of the Ceres 1 solid rocket. According to Star River Power, although Ceres 1 can carry a payload of 400 kilograms to low Earth orbit or a sun synchronous orbit of 300 kilograms to 500 kilometers, Ceres 2 has a payload capacity of 1.6 tons to low Earth orbit and 1.3 tons to 500 kilometers to a sun synchronous orbit. The commercial company Deep Blue Aerospace plans to launch the Nebula 1 rocket this year with the goal of recovering and reusing the rocket. The diameter of the Nebula 1 arrow is 3.35 meters. This kerosene liquid oxygen rocket will be able to carry a payload of 2 tons into low Earth orbit. The company claims that the improved version can carry an 8-ton payload to low Earth orbit. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has been using solid propellant assisted Lijian-2 carrier rocket to carry out flight missions, but it plans to launch its first kerosene liquid oxygen rocket in the second half of 2025. The universal core of Lijian-2 has a diameter of 3.35 meters and a total length of 53 meters, capable of carrying 12 tons of payload to low Earth orbit or 7.8 tons to sun synchronous orbit. Zhongke Aerospace stated that this rocket will eventually be reusable. The Hyperbolic III carrier rocket, Star Glory Aerospace Technology Group, made history in 2019 by becoming the first Chinese private company to launch a solid fuel rocket into orbit. The company plans to launch the Hyperbolic III liquid oxygen methane rocket in 2025. The Hyperbolic III carrier rocket has a total length of 69 meters and a low orbit capacity of 8.5 tons. The company plans to make this rocket reusable in the future. Other potential first-time launches include Dongfang Space Company's Gravity II rocket. These companies and rockets will compete with each other for domestic contracts. The result is likely to be that China will acquire new, low-cost, and reusable launch vehicles, which will drive China to enter space more, meet the launch needs of implementing large constellations and other programs, and potentially attract international customers. (New Society)