China launches world's most powerful solid fuel rocket

The Gravity 1 rocket, the world's most powerful solid-propellant launch vehicle, made its debut flight off the coast of Haiyang in east China's Shandong Province on Thursday.

Developed by Chinese commercial aerospace company Orienspace, the medium-lift rocket successfully sent three meteorological satellites into orbit. The rocket model consists of three core stages and four boosters, all powered by solid-propellant motors and equipped with flexible swinging nozzles.

Compared with a land-based launch, a sea launch provides more flexibility, better adaptability, and a lower risk of causing trouble for populated areas.