LandSpace recovered the stainless-steel first-stage booster of its Zhuque-3 orbital rocket after a launch from the Gobi Desert [1, 2, 3].
This achievement marks the first time a Chinese commercial rocket has both reached orbit and had its first stage recovered on land [1, 2, 3]. The successful landing demonstrates China's growing capability to develop reusable launch vehicles, a critical step in reducing the cost of access to space.
The recovery took place on July 10, 2024 [1, 2]. LandSpace used stainless steel for the booster construction [2], a material choice that mirrors the design strategy used by SpaceX for its Super Heavy booster. By utilizing this material, the company aims to increase durability and simplify the manufacturing process for reusable hardware [2, 4].
The Zhuque-3 is the second Chinese orbital rocket to demonstrate first-stage recovery, following the Long March-10B [2]. However, the LandSpace mission is distinct because it was conducted by a commercial entity rather than a state-run agency [1, 2].
Operations were centered in the Gobi Desert, where the company managed both the launch and the subsequent recovery of the booster [1, 3]. The mission was designed to prove that the company could execute a controlled descent and landing of a heavy orbital stage on land [1].
While some reports attributed the recovery to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) [3], other records identify LandSpace as the entity responsible for the recovery [1, 2]. LandSpace remains the leading commercial rocket company in China [1, 2].
“The first time a Chinese commercial rocket has both reached orbit and had its first stage recovered on land.”
The successful recovery of the Zhuque-3 booster signals a shift in the global space race toward commercialized reusability. By adopting stainless-steel construction and land-based recovery, China is directly challenging the technical monopoly held by U.S.-based SpaceX. This development suggests that China is prioritizing rapid, iterative testing of reusable hardware to lower launch costs and increase the frequency of orbital missions.
