Beijing (Web Desk) — China has achieved a major breakthrough in the development of reusable space rockets, as a rocket operated by a private company successfully entered Earth’s orbit for the first time and then returned to Earth for a successful landing.
The Chinese private company LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 rocket reached orbit, released a satellite into space, and subsequently returned to Earth without any external assistance, completing a successful landing.
According to the company, the rocket landed directly on the ground using its landing legs and successfully remained upright, marking a major technological advancement for China’s private space industry. The test also practically demonstrated the rocket’s reliable performance and its potential for repeated use in the future.
The design and capabilities of Zhuque-3 are somewhat similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, although the two rockets use different fuels. Falcon 9 uses liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene, while the Chinese rocket is powered by liquid methane along with liquid oxygen.
Zhuque-3 was launched from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Zone in northwestern China. This was its second test flight, during which the rocket reached orbit, released a satellite, and then successfully returned to Earth.
China is describing the achievement as a major milestone in its reusable rocket program.