Learn more

It’s often said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that’s true, SpaceX might want to check its mailbox for a thank-you note from China. After nearly a decade of development, China’s Long March 9 rocket has undergone yet another redesign, and this time, it looks strikingly familiar — like a clone of SpaceX’s Starship. You might say it’s the space race’s latest case of déjà vu. Unveiled at an airshow in Zhuhai, the newest iteration of the Long March 9 marks a clear departure from the original design, which featured three stages and solid motors. Instead, China’s space agency ha…

cuu