China has successfully recovered the first stage of a rocket on land for the first time, marking another step in its development of reusable launch technology.
The Zhuque-3 rocket was launched on August 19 before its first stage returned to Earth and completed a controlled landing using deployable legs. China had previously recovered a different rocket stage on a sea platform in July using a net-based capture system.
Reusable launch vehicles allow companies to recover and fly expensive rocket components again instead of discarding them after a single mission. The technology can lower the cost of placing satellites and other payloads into space.
SpaceX and Blue Origin have been recovering rocket boosters for more than a decade. China’s latest test indicates that its domestic aerospace companies are attempting to narrow the technological gap and compete more aggressively in the international launch market.
