SHENZHEN, China, March 31 (Reuters) - Chinese rocket

maker Space Epoch is working with Alibaba's ( BABA ) online shopping

platform Taobao to make reusable rockets for express deliveries

that could arrive globally in an hour, Space Epoch announced on

Sunday.

The project is in early trial stages and aims to develop a

rocket that can carry up to ten tons of cargo in a 120 cubic

metre container, Space Epoch said in a notice posted on its

official WeChat social media account.

Alibaba ( BABA ) did not immediately respond to a request

for comment.

Beijing-based Space Epoch is looking to use its 'Yuanxing-1'

rocket, which completed ignition and offshore recovery tests

last year.

The company will carry out rocket delivery tests in the near

future, noting that achieving its goals will not be easy in the

short term.

President Xi Jinping has called for the expansion of

strategic industries including the commercial space sector,

deemed key to building constellations of satellites for

communications, remote sensing and navigation.

Last year saw 17 Chinese commercial launches with one

failure, among a new record 67 orbital launches by China. That

was up from 10 commercial launches in 2022, including two

failures.

Space Epoch secured 200 million yuan ($27.70 million) in its

third financing round last November.

($1 = 7.2203 Chinese yuan renminbi)