China’s LandSpace Achieves Historic Steel-Booster Recovery in Orbital Test

In a groundbreaking achievement, China’s leading commercial rocket firm LandSpace successfully recovered a stainless‑steel booster following an orbital launch, underscoring its push toward affordable, reusable launch systems.

The mission marks Zhuque‑3 as China’s inaugural commercial launch vehicle to achieve orbit and retrieve its first stage.

SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster, constructed from stainless steel, is currently awaiting FAA clearance for its maiden recovery flight that will deploy Starship into orbit.

Recoverable Chinese Rocket Completes Post‑Launch Return

Standing 66 metres (217 feet) tall and fueled by liquid methane and oxygen, the vehicle lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert at 7:35 a.m. on Wednesday, as reported by the state news agency Xinhua.

It deployed a Honghu‑3 communications satellite into its intended orbit, and its first stage descended vertically to a landing zone in Minqin county, Gansu province, approximately 390 km (242 mi) southeast of the launch site.

It marked LandSpace’s second attempt to launch Zhuque‑3 into orbit and achieve first‑stage recovery. In its inaugural flight in December, the second stage successfully attained orbit, yet the first stage ignited in a dramatic fireball during the final powered descent toward the landing pad.

Source link