A private Chinese rocket manufacturer announced the successful delivery of parcels from the Taobao e-commerce platform using a reusable rocket, according to the Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Beijing-based SEPOCH conducted its first commercial rocket transport test, with the XZY-1 rocket carrying more than 20 kilograms of parcels during a test flight off China's east coast. The rocket landed successfully in the sea, and developers said the move represents a major advance in commercial logistics.
The steel rocket was 26.8 meters long and weighed 57 tons. Its flight lasted 125 seconds, reaching an altitude of 2.5 kilometers before landing vertically in the waters of Shandong Province.
The missile was recovered after an 18-hour operation and returned to the commercial platform in excellent condition.The 120-cubic-meter cargo hold is designed to carry payloads of up to 10 tons and could theoretically carry cars or small trucks.
The trial shipment included merchandise from two Taobao stores, including products from the official store of the National Library of China and commemorative cards specially designed for the test.
"Technical data has shown that the shipping containers meet fire resistance, moisture resistance, and shock absorption standards," said Wei Yi, founder of Spock.
The company's collaboration with Alibaba's Taobao platform represents China's interest in developing micro-mobility technology, which could revolutionize global shipping by reducing intercontinental delivery times from days to minutes.
