China's First Private Space Rocket Launch Ever

[Vlad Kovalenko + 115]

OneSpace Technologies conducted the first private rocket launch in Chinese history this week, firing off the 30-foot (9 meter) OS-X from a platform in northwest China, reaching  an altitude of 25 miles and   traveled some 170 miles from the launch pad.  The end goal of this SpaceX competitor is to be able to charge less than $10,000 a kilogram for cargo.  SpaceX has sought to cut the cost of space launches with reusable rockets, and seems to be rapidly closing in on that goal with a series of successful tests. OneSpace may cost significantly less than SpaceX and it has aspirations of becoming the largest small-satellite launch companies in the world, but OS-X is only capable of carrying 220 pounds into orbit—a drop in the bucket compared to the Falcon 9's 50,000+ pound capacity. It also uses solid rocket fuel, meaning components can’t be reused after launch. 

[Marina Schwarz + 1,576]

Oh, that's just what Musk needs right now. Problems, problems everywhere...