Long March 9
 

https://spacenews.com/china-scraps-e...sable-version/

China scraps expendable Long March 9 rocket plan in favor of reusable version

HELSINKI — Rocket designers with China’s main launch vehicle institute have scrapped plans for an expendable super heavy-lift launcher in favor of a design featuring a reusable first stage.

A new model of a Long March 9 rocket featuring grid fins and no side boosters recently went on display at the ongoing Zhuhai Airshow in southern China, prompting speculation that the long-standing plan of an expendable rocket had been dropped.

Liu Bing, director of the general design department at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), later confirmed the new direction in an interview with China Central Television Nov. 7.

The new, current plan for the rocket will be a three-stage, 108-meter-high, 10-meter-diameter and 4,180 metric ton rocket capable of delivering 150 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO), 50 tons to lunar transfer orbit (LTO), or 35 tons to Mars transfer orbit. The rocket is scheduled to be ready for test flight around 2030.

Liu told CCTV however that the design has not been finalized and will likely see changes as the team selects the optimal pathway, while committing to the goal of constantly breaking through technological challenges and increasing its launching power.…


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5fc282365.jpeg
6

So, basically a Starship Super Heavy Booster with expendable 2nd and 3rd stages?

Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery…But if Booster/Starship works they’ll still be at least a generation behind.

And remember SpaceX hasn’t patented much, because it reveals secrets, and does most design in house. If they haven’t been hacked then the zchinese have a long road of trial and error ahead of them.