tech
December 4, 2025
A spectacular explosion shows China is close to obtaining reusable rockets
“China’s first rocket recovery attempt achieved its expected technical objectives.”
TL;DR
- LandSpace launched its new Zhuque-3 rocket for the first time.
- The rocket's upper stage successfully reached its target orbit.
- The first stage booster, designed for recovery and reuse, failed to achieve a soft landing.
- An anomaly occurred during the booster's landing burn, causing it to crash near the recovery pad.
- The rocket appeared to survive reentry forces and nearly hit the landing target.
- No one was harmed in the accident.
- The Zhuque-3 is China's first rocket with a reusable booster design.
- Reusable rockets are seen as crucial for China to compete with the US launch industry.
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