China becomes first nation to recover orbital launch rockets with 2 distinct paths

In a global first, leading Chinese commercial rocket company LandSpace has recovered a stainless-steel booster after an orbital launch, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to develop lower-cost, reusable rockets.

It is also the first country to succeed in orbital launch recovery down distinct technological pathways, pulling off a dual-track strategy that even the United States – which pioneered reusable rocket technology – has yet to execute.

The Zhuque-3 is China’s first commercial rocket to both reach orbit and have its first stage recovered.

Like SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Blue Origin’s New Glenn, Zhuque-3 uses landing legs to recover its rockets.

But last month, China was the first to recover a booster on an orbital launch with a different technique, after the first stage of CASC’s Long March 10B was recovered using a unique sea-based net capture system.