Chinese Start-Up Lands Reusable Rocket for the First Time

The milestone by the private company, LandSpace, could put China closer to challenging SpaceX’s rule in lower-cost spaceflight.

"We will put the booster back into service for another flight as soon as possible."

Although this marks China's first successful recovery on land, it is the second time the country has recovered a rocket stage, following a successful recovery on a sea platform in July.

A Chinese space startup recovered the first stage of a rocket on land on Wednesday morning, hailed by state media as a first for the country and a “breakthrough” in its reusable spacecraft technology.

LandSpace's Zhuque-3 rocket touched down in Gansu province on Wednesday, following a sea-based recovery by a different rocket last month

China-based LandSpace successfully launched a Zhuque-3 rocket and recovered its first stage, a breakthrough in the nation’s efforts to develop reusable boosters that can slash the cost of space launches. The first stage of the 66-metre (217-foot) rocket touched down in Minqin County, Gansu province, northwest China, on

LandSpace achieved the feat with its Zhuque-3 rocket on Wednesday (Aug 19), delivering China’s first successful ground-based, leg-assisted landing of an orbital-class booster.

China's LandSpace lands rocket booster; joins SpaceX, Blue Origin with reusable tech  Reuters