An innovator in China has successfully launched a self-developed low-cost rocket, proving the feasibility of budget space exploration to the world.
In February, the 12m Shenzhen Pioneer rocket made local history in China’s remote northeastern Qinghai province, reaching a record altitude of 3,700m and setting a new regional benchmark for liquid rocket launches.
Built by a five-person team led by 31-year-old Lu Yulong, the rocket took just 15 days to build in Shenzhen.
Lu Yulong stands next to his rocket before the countdown to launch. Photo: Sohu
Lu, a self-taught innovator from Jiangxi province in eastern China, has long been captivated by chemistry, high-voltage electricity and rockets.
His childhood fascination began when an accidental encounter with a corrosive acid left him with severe burns but sparked a lifelong passion for science.
In primary school, Lu taught himself secondary chemistry in just one year and began experimenting with explosives.
In 2007, a mishap during a high-energy materials experiment at home led to an explosion.