Beijing – In a development that underscores China’s push to lower launch costs, state news agency Xinhua announced Wednesday that the private aerospace company LandSpace recovered the first stage of its Zhuque‑3 reusable rocket on land. The rocket, launched earlier that morning, returned to a designated landing zone where deployable landing legs touched down safely.

First land recovery for China

This achievement follows a successful sea‑based recovery on July 10, when a Long March‑10B first stage was captured by a net‑system on a floating platform. The recent land recovery is the first time China has used landing‑leg technology to bring a rocket stage back to solid ground, a step Xinhua called “a major breakthrough in the country’s reusable rocket technology.”

Context in the global space race

Since 2015, companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin have routinely recovered rockets, driving down the cost of sending satellites and other payloads into orbit. China’s progress reflects a broader effort by the nation to develop indigenous reusable launch capabilities and compete more effectively in the international space market.

Regional developments

Japan, a regional rival, also advanced its reusable‑rocket program last week with a test flight that safely landed, indicating a growing focus on cost‑saving technologies across East Asia.

While the recovery marks a technical milestone, analysts note that commercial viability will depend on how quickly China can scale the process and integrate it into regular launch operations.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.