China unveiled a model of its own version of Starship.

According to information accompanying the layout at the Airshow China 2024 aerospace exhibition in Zhuhai, a large two-stage rocket will be used to send taikonauts to the Moon. The "Chang Zheng-9" is being developed in at least three versions, one of which is a fully reusable system similar to Starship.

The similarities with Starship don't end there. The upper stage of the "Chang Zheng-9" features maneuver-enhancing flaps, positioned in the same way as on the upper stage of Starship.

The lower stage of the Chinese rocket will be equipped with 30 YF-215 engines that run on methane and utilize liquid oxygen as an oxidizer for the main fuel. The first stage of Starship, known as Super Heavy, has 33 engines operating on the same propellants.

The "Chang Zheng-9" rocket will reach a height of 114 meters and will be capable of delivering a payload of 150 tons to low Earth orbit. Starship, standing at 122 meters tall, can also deliver the same mass of payload to low Earth orbit.