LandSpace recovers Zhuque-3 first stage on land after sea capture success

China’s first private aerospace company, LandSpace, has recovered the Zhuque-3 reusable rocket booster on land for the first time in the country. CCTV reported that on the 19th morning, the “Zhuque-3 Yao-2” booster lifted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Spaceflight and Aviation Innovation Test Zone in Gansu. Designed to land on the ground, it uses grid fins to control descent during reentry and foldable landing legs. The booster then made a vertical landing at the Zhuque-3 landing site in Minqin County, Gansu, after reaching orbit. The effort follows a postponed launch due to a 10th incident involving an improved Long March 7 rocket. China joins the U.S. in achieving rocket reuse, and has demonstrated two recovery methods in quick succession.