AI Generated Image
China recovers rocket stage on land for first time
AP News • • business
Key Points:
- China has successfully recovered the first stage of a rocket on land for the first time, marking a significant advancement in its space program, according to state media.
- The reusable rocket, Zhuque-3, developed by private company LandSpace, was launched and its first stage recovered on Wednesday, featuring China’s first use of deployable landing legs.
- This follows China’s earlier recovery of a rocket stage on a sea platform in July, which used a net-capture system, making Wednesday’s land recovery a major breakthrough in reusable rocket technology.
- SpaceX and Blue Origin have been recovering rockets since 2015, pioneering cost-saving reusable hardware, while Japan recently conducted its first test flight of an experimental reusable rocket to compete in the global space market.
