China recovers rocket stage on land for first time, after earlier recovery at sea
The mission makes LandSpace the first Chinese company to land an orbital-class booster on land, as the rocket’s first stage returned with deployable legs.
- On Wednesday, China successfully launched the Zhuque-3 Y-2 rocket from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone, recovering the first stage on land in Minqin County, Gansu Province, marking a milestone for the nation's space program.
- Rocket developer LandSpace utilized deployable landing legs for the mission, representing China's first successful land recovery of a reusable launch vehicle following a July sea platform recovery.
- Engineering teams optimized the landing propulsion system by reducing engine usage and enhanced the onboard autonomous flight safety system to improve return-control strategies during the vehicle's high-speed atmospheric re-entry.
- While SpaceX and Blue Origin have recovered rockets since 2015, China's achievement positions the nation to reduce launch costs; Xinhua News Agency deemed the result "a major breakthrough in the country's reusable rocket technology."
- LandSpace confirmed the operation established a solid foundation for subsequent inspection, maintenance, and commercial applications of reusable launch vehicles, advancing the nation's long-term space ambitions.
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In China, for the first time, a rocket stage has landed vertically on landing legs after an orbital launch. The lower part of the "Zhuque-3" rocket was mounted on foldable supports. The system was developed by the private Chinese space company Landspace.
China successfully recovers rocket stage on land for the first time
China has successfully recaptured the first stage of a rocket on land for the first time, state media reports, as the country seeks to advance its space program. Although this marks China’s first successful recovery on land, it is the…
Chinese private space rocket manufacturer LandSpace has reported that its reusable "Juquae-3" (ZQ-3) rocket successfully returned to Earth and landed after an orbital launch.
Startup Landspace has successfully landed the first booster of its Zhuque3 rocket, becoming the first Chinese company to do so after a launch into orbit.
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