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China recovers rocket stage on land for first time, after earlier recovery at sea

LandSpace said the booster completed a successful land landing and recovery, marking China’s first use of deployable landing legs on an orbital-class rocket.

  • 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.
Insights by Ground AI

106 Articles

Right

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.

·Tehran, Iran (Islamic Republic of)
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Center

The private company LandSpace managed to land the first floor of an orbital class launcher, a first technology for the Chinese space industry LandSpace, a Chinese start-up,

·France
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Lean Left

The private Chinese space company Landspace was able to land a rocket on its feet for the first time. This is groundbreaking for space travel.

·Zürich, Switzerland
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(Seoul=Yonhap News) China has succeeded in recovering a rocket's first-stage booster by landing it vertically on the ground.

·Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
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  • 58% of the sources are Center
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Astronomy.com broke the news in Chattanooga, United States on Monday, August 17, 2026.
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