China has achieved a major breakthrough in its space technology history by successfully launching the reusable Zhuque-3 rocket and landing its first stage at a designated site on land.
The rocket was launched at 7:35 a.m. local time today (19) from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone in northwest China.
The mission marks China's first controlled rocket landing on land. The first stage of the Zhuque-3 is equipped with deployable landing legs, enabling it to make a vertical landing and be reused.
The achievement follows China's successful recovery of the first stage of the Long March-10B rocket on July 10 using a net-based recovery system positioned at sea.
Space experts say the technological breakthrough could significantly reduce the cost of space missions and help China meet the growing demands of its commercial space sector in the future.
