A Chinese rocket startup successfully completed its first sea recovery test, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s push towards reusable rocket technology. The verification rocket, named Yanxingzhe-1, descended vertically onto the waters off the coast of Shandong Province in eastern China.
On Thursday morning, the 26.8-meter-tall stainless steel rocket, which measures 4.2 meters in diameter and weighs 57 tonnes at liftoff, soared to an altitude of approximately 2.5 kilometers during its full-thrust ascent. The entire flight lasted 125 seconds.
A video released by the Beijing-based company Space Epoch captured the remarkable moment when Yanxingzhe-1 reignited its engines during descent. The rocket hovered gracefully above the sea surface before making a soft, vertical landing.
Post-flight data analysis confirmed that the rocket performed flawlessly throughout the test. Experts have declared the sea landing recovery a success, heralding a new era in China’s commercial space industry.
This achievement is the latest in a series of efforts by Chinese aerospace companies to develop reusable rocket technology. In recent years, several domestic rockets have completed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) tests, demonstrating China’s growing capabilities in this field.
In 2023, rockets such as Zhuque-3 and one developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology completed 10-kilometer VTOL tests in northwest China. Earlier that year, a test version of the reusable Kuaizhou rocket, developed by Expace Technology, successfully conducted a VTOL experiment with a brief flight off the ground.
Additionally, the SQX-2Y, a reusable rocket developed by i-Space, conducted two VTOL flight tests in 2023, further showcasing the rapid advancements in China’s commercial space sector.
The success of Yanxingzhe-1’s sea recovery test not only demonstrates China’s technological prowess but also paves the way for more cost-effective and sustainable space missions. As reusable rockets become increasingly important in global space exploration, China’s continued innovation positions it as a significant player in the industry.
