Alibaba is exploring one-hour delivery with rockets

Alibaba, which owns e-commerce platform Taobao, and Space Epoch are exploring the possibility of one-hour delivery using Yuanxingzhe 1 rockets. Each projectile is expected to be able to carry up to 10 tons of cargo.

Info Apr 4, 2024 0 165 Add to Reading List

Alibaba is exploring one-hour delivery with rockets

Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba and space startup Space Epoch are planning to revolutionize the delivery of goods using rockets. This innovative approach delivers packages to customers around the world within one hour.

The project is designed to use reusable rockets to transport cargo. Each of these spacecraft will be able to accommodate a container with a volume of 120 cubic meters, capable of transporting up to 10 tons of goods.

An animation presented by Space Epoch shows the process of delivering goods. First, goods are loaded onto a conveyor belt, then into a rocket, which takes off and travels through space in 25 minutes to the east coast of China. After this, the cargo is unloaded, transferred to a truck and delivered to the final buyer.

Space Epoch claims that its Yuanxingzhe 1 rocket is capable of carrying cargo comparable in size to a car. This makes some sense, since the size and weight of the vehicle is more suitable for this style of delivery, as opposed to a variety of parcels containing small items.

At the moment, the cost of such delivery has not been determined. However, according to calculations by The Register, it could be about $4.99 million for the maximum possible payload of 831 kg. This significantly exceeds the cost of even the most expensive cars.