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Ars Technica
The floodgates are open after another Chinese company lands a reusable rocket
LandSpace, a Chinese company, has achieved a significant milestone by landing its Zhuque-3 reusable rocket, following the country's initial successful recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster. This latest success not only marks China's first recovery attempt on land but also reflects a growing competitive landscape in the global space launch market, challenging the dominance of U.S. companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.
MonitorConfidence: MediumShort term horizon
Published 19 Aug 2026, 18:56 UTC7 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- LandSpace's Zhuque-3 reusable rocket successfully lands in Gobi Desert.
- This marks China's first recovery of an orbital-class booster on land.
- LandSpace aims to achieve multiple flights using the same booster.
- Chinese launch capabilities are expanding with several companies focusing on reusable rockets.
- The success showcases advancements in China's space technology.
Interesting facts
- The Zhuque-3 rocket is powered by methane, differing from SpaceX's kerosene-fueled Falcon 9.
- LandSpace plans to optimize the Zhuque-3 for deploying Chinese satellite constellations.