In 2025, reusable rockets are no longer a sci-fi dream – they’re becoming everyday infrastructure in orbit! 🚀 This year, the Chinese mainland emerged as a fierce contender in the global space transport race, thanks to two major launches in December.
First up was LandSpace’s Zhuque-3, a 66-meter-tall, stainless-steel rocket burning liquid methane and oxygen for cleaner, faster turnaround. Shortly after, the state-backed Long March-12A lifted off on its maiden mission, carrying satellites smoothly into orbit. Both nail-delivered their payloads… but the real thrill came in the recovery attempts.
Bringing an orbital booster back home is no joke. From surviving hypersonic re-entry and extreme heat 🔥 to firing engines multiple times and steering precisely to the landing pad, every step tests engineering limits. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 only mastered this routine after almost a decade of tweaks – and it shows how bold the Chinese mainland’s strategy is, testing recovery on first flights!
LandSpace’s chief commander revealed that Zhuque-3 managed controlled descent, engine reignitions, and guidance… just not the cherry-on-top landing. But even getting that close on a debut flight is a flex, pushing the envelope in rocket tech and hinting at rapid reuse: the dream of three launches per month at a tiny $3,000 per kilogram cost.
The race is heating up worldwide. In November, Blue Origin’s New Glenn scored orbital booster reuse on its second flight after a decade in the making. Japan’s Honda stunned fans with a surprise vertical launch-and-landing test, and India’s spaceplane-style recovery projects plus private startups are gearing up for their moments.
Looking ahead, the Chinese mainland plans multiple reusable rocket attempts in 2026. With every bounce and misstep, engineers learn faster, and soon the stars won’t just be above us – they’ll be routine pitstops in humanity’s space highway. 🌌✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
