A Chinese aerospace startup, Zhiyu Aerospace Technology, plans to use supercritical carbon dioxide for a cold-launch rocket system. The method aims to reduce costs and enable faster, more flexible launches without fixed pads. This could lower the carbon footprint of small launch vehicles by using CO2 as a propellant instead of traditional fuels. The technology is still in early stages, but if successful, it could shift how small rockets are built and operated. The company says it would allow high-frequency launches with lower emissions. For the carbon market, this represents a niche but real step toward decarbonizing the space industry, which currently relies on high-emission propellants.
