LandSpace, a Chinese commercial aerospace company, plans to test the reusable Zhuque-3 rocket in Q2 2026. The focus is on recovering the first stage for reuse in future missions.
Zhuque-3’s first stage uses vertical landing technology to reduce launch costs and support satellite deployment. Its maiden flight in December 2025 showed precise guidance but faced a landing issue.
Successful recovery of the first stage could make China’s space launches more cost-effective. The stage is designed for up to 20 reuses, with a long-term goal of cutting launch costs to around 20,000 yuan ($2,800) per kilogram.
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