Disaster! China's desperate attempt to COPY the Inside Starship...Musk laugh

In recent years, China’s space program has taken aggressive steps toward competing with SpaceX, the undisputed leader in commercial spaceflight. Now, all eyes are on the Long March 9—a rocket that looks and feels eerily similar to SpaceX’s Starship. But is it innovation, or blatant imitation?

While many countries strive to develop unique approaches to space, China appears to have taken a shortcut: copy what already works. And what works best today? SpaceX’s Starship.

The Rise of the Long March 9: A Familiar Silhouette

What is the Long March 9?

The Long March 9 is China’s answer to Starship—a super-heavy-lift reusable rocket developed under the guidance of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

While early designs showed a traditional, expendable three-stage rocket, the most recent updates display a fully reusable architecture, right down to grid fins positioned just like those on Starship’s second stage.

Recent developments include:

Construction of stainless steel propellant tanks (diameters: 5.0m and 10.6m)
Adoption of cryogenic fuels: methane and liquid oxygen
30 YF215 engines for the first stage (versus 33 Raptors on Starship)

Stainless Steel—A Copycat Material Choice

One of the most telling signs of imitation? China’s switch from aluminum to stainless steel for rocket construction—a decision pioneered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

SpaceX chose stainless steel for several reasons:

Higher melting point
Better thermal protection for cryogenic fuels
Lower material costs

China followed suit with remarkable precision. On April 29, 2025, CALT announced a “breakthrough” in stainless steel tank construction—an accomplishment suspiciously familiar to what SpaceX achieved years prior.

The Specs Don’t Lie—A Clone in the Making?

Engine Power Comparison

Feature	Long March 9	SpaceX Starship
Engine Type	YF215	Raptor
Number of Engines	30	33
Fuel Type	Methane + LOX	Methane + LOX
Thrust per Engine	~200 tons	~280 tons

The performance specs align closely with those of Starship, suggesting China is optimizing around SpaceX’s proven model, rather than innovating on its own.

Timeline and Launch Goals

China plans to launch the Long March 9 by 2033, with key missions involving:

Construction of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS)
Launching 13,000 satellites as part of two massive LEO constellations
Supporting projects like a space-based solar power station

In many ways, this mirrors SpaceX’s Starlink and NASA’s Artemis program, making direct competition unavoidable.

A History of Replication in China’s Space Sector

Cosmolap, Space Pioneer, and the Copycat Trend

This isn’t the first time China has been accused of copying SpaceX:

In 2021, CALT released a video identical to Musk’s BFR concept
In 2022, another methane-powered, two-stage rocket design emerged, eerily similar to Starship
Companies like Cosmolap and Space Pioneer even replicated launch towers with chopstick arms, a hallmark of SpaceX’s infrastructure

SpaceX as Mentor and Model

Interestingly, some Chinese entrepreneurs admit their admiration for SpaceX:

“SpaceX is a mentor to the industry,” said Huo Liang, founder of Deep Blue Aerospace.

And they’re not alone. Landspace, iSpace, Deep Blue Aerospace, and Orienspace are all trying to emulate—and ideally improve upon—SpaceX’s reusable rocket technology.

China’s Push for Technological Autonomy

Strategic Shifts Driven by Geopolitics

China’s imitation game is more than flattery—it’s part of a larger push for independence from Western technologies, especially in light of growing US-China tensions. The Chinese government is heavily investing in private space companies, nudging them to close the innovation gap.

In February 2025, President Xi Jinping personally met with top tech entrepreneurs, encouraging private-sector leadership in space innovation. The inclusion of Galaxy Space—China’s answer to Starlink—was no coincidence.

Infrastructure and Commercial Growth

Major infrastructure updates include:

A dedicated commercial launchpad (operational by November 2024)
Development of six reusable rockets by end of 2025

These are not isolated moves—they’re part of a national strategy for space dominance.

Meanwhile, SpaceX is Racing Ahead

Launch Cadence and Reusability Leadership

By the end of 2024, SpaceX completed:

134 successful launches
Deployment of 7,000+ Starlink satellites
Recovery of its Superheavy booster during a Starship test flight

No Chinese company, public or private, has matched this cadence or capability.

NASA vs. CNSA: A New Lunar Space Race

The U.S. and China are now locked in a race to the lunar south pole, with both sides forming coalitions and drawing lines around strategic lunar real estate (especially craters rich in water ice).

While NASA relies on its aging and expensive SLS, China is placing its bets on Long March 9—hoping its reusability and payload advantages will make it the backbone of lunar colonization.

The Future: Will China Catch Up or Stay a Step Behind?

Advantages of Reusability

Reusability is the future, and SpaceX has already proven it works. With each reused booster, SpaceX cuts costs, increases reliability, and boosts its launch rate.

If China’s Long March 9 achieves its goals, it may offer similar benefits:

Lower launch costs
Higher launch frequency
Strategic flexibility for defense and communications

But catching up to SpaceX will require more than copying. China must scale manufacturing, foster innovation, and build trust on the international stage.

China’s Private Sector: The X-Factor

Emerging players like Deep Blue Aerospace are chasing big goals:

Recoverable Nebula 1 rocket
Space tourism by 2027 (~$100,000 USD per seat)

These ambitious plans mirror Blue Origin’s and Virgin Galactic’s vision, suggesting that China wants a stake in every aspect of the space economy, not just government missions.

Final Thoughts: Copycat or Contender?

It’s tempting to write off China’s Long March 9 as just a SpaceX clone. The visuals, the materials, and even the promotional videos seem lifted from Elon Musk’s playbook. And yes, China’s approach to innovation often blurs the line between inspiration and imitation.

But let’s not forget—China has the resources, talent, and national willpower to evolve beyond copying. Once the imitation stage passes, the Long March 9 could become a serious competitor, especially if paired with private-sector innovation.

For now, SpaceX leads by a wide margin, but China is sprinting to catch up. And when it comes to space supremacy, the final destination may not be the first man on the Moon, but the first nation to build a self-sustaining presence there.

FAQs

1. What is the Long March 9 rocket?

The Long March 9 is a super-heavy-lift rocket being developed by China for deep space missions, including lunar exploration and satellite constellation deployment. It’s designed to be fully reusable and is often compared to SpaceX’s Starship due to its similar design and functionality.

2. Is the Long March 9 a copy of SpaceX’s Starship?

Many analysts and observers believe that the Long March 9 closely resembles SpaceX’s Starship, both in appearance and internal structure. From stainless steel construction to engine configuration, the similarities are significant, leading to accusations of imitation rather than innovation.

3. When is China planning to launch the Long March 9?

China aims to conduct the first flight of the Long March 9 in 2033. This launch will be part of the country’s broader ambitions to build a lunar base and low Earth orbit satellite constellations.

4. What are YF215 engines?

The YF215 engines are methane-liquid oxygen (methalox) engines designed for the Long March 9’s first stage. Each engine produces approximately 200 tons of thrust, and the first stage is expected to use 30 of these engines.

5. Why is stainless steel used instead of aluminum?

Stainless steel is used because it:

Is cheaper to produce
Has a higher melting point
Provides better thermal insulation for cryogenic fuels
SpaceX was the first to popularize this approach, and China has since adopted the same material for the Long March 9.

6. How does the Long March 9 compare to Starship?

Both rockets are designed to be fully reusable, run on methalox engines, and feature multiple powerful engines in the first stage. However, Starship is ahead in terms of flight testing, reusability success, and production capacity.

7. What is China’s goal with reusable rockets?

China aims to lower launch costs, increase mission frequency, and build strategic independence in space. Reusable rockets like the Long March 9 are critical for long-term lunar colonization, satellite deployment, and interplanetary missions.

8. What role do private Chinese space companies play?

Private companies like Landspace, Deep Blue Aerospace, and Orienspace are developing their own reusable rockets, inspired by SpaceX. These firms are part of China’s plan to decentralize innovation and speed up space development through the commercial sector.

9. What are the risks of copying another country’s technology?

While copying can accelerate development, it also risks technological dependency, lack of innovation, and international criticism. Without true breakthroughs, China could fall behind in long-term sustainability and global leadership.

10. Is China planning space tourism?

Yes. Companies like Deep Blue Aerospace have announced plans to launch suborbital space tourism flights by 2027, with ticket prices estimated at over $100,000 USD per seat.

11. How does the Long March 9 support China’s lunar plans?

The Long March 9 will support the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which China plans to build in the 2030s. The rocket’s large payload capacity and reusability make it suitable for transporting heavy equipment and crew to the Moon.

12. Will China overtake SpaceX in spaceflight?

As of now, SpaceX remains far ahead in launch frequency, technology, and global partnerships. However, China is investing heavily and may narrow the gap if its government and private sector can deliver innovation and scale production effectively.

Disaster! China’s desperate attempt to COPY the Inside Starship…Musk laugh