The Taobao online store, which is part of the Alibaba Group, intends to deliver packages to its customers worldwide in the future using reusable rockets from the Space Epoch startup, according to Reuters.
For the past few years, Space Epoch has been developing reusable rockets capable of delivering cargo to low Earth orbit. The company's rockets will be 64 meters long and can deliver up to 6.5 tons of payload to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 1100 km. The company estimates that one rocket can be used up to 20 times. Currently, tests and trials of individual rocket elements are underway.
According to Taobao's plan, the online platform will be able to use these rockets for express delivery of goods worldwide. It is envisaged that tons of cargo will be delivered on one rocket in special containers.
However, Taobao representatives note that despite plans to start test launches in the coming years, implementing this delivery method in the short term is unlikely.
In November, the Financial Times reported that Alibaba founder Jack Ma has been living in Tokyo for almost six months after disappearing from public view following pressure from the Chinese government on the technology sector.
Earlier, he made critical remarks about China's financial system. He made this statement a few weeks before the planned initial public offering (IPO) of Ant Group, a subsidiary of Alibaba. The stock market listing was recognized as the world's largest IPO - its value was about $35 billion. However, Chinese regulators halted the listing, citing serious issues.