Image Credit: CGTN
China’s privately developed Zhuque-3 reusable test rocket has successfully completed a vertical takeoff and landing flight test on Wednesday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China, according to LandSpace, the rocket’s developer. This latest achievement is seen as a pivotal advancement for China’s commercial space sector, enhancing the prospects of high-capacity, low-cost, and reusable space launches.
LandSpace, a leading Chinese private rocket company, indicated that the test aimed to verify several crucial technologies integral to reusable rockets. The test involved a sequence of complex manoeuvres, including ascent, engine shutdown, power-off glide, an in-flight engine restart, and a controlled soft landing. All performance indicators were reported to have met the expected design specifications, underscoring the rocket’s reliability and potential.
The Zhuque-3 test rocket is described as a single-stage liquid oxygen-methane vehicle, boasting a diameter of 3.35 metres and a length of 18.3 metres. It incorporates a high-strength stainless steel airframe structure, the same material used in the Zhuque-3 rocket. LandSpace highlighted that this structure is instrumental in enhancing the vehicle’s durability and adaptability for future space missions.
The recent test follows a similar flight conducted in January, with both tests collectively validating a range of reusable rocket technologies. LandSpace noted that these trials are laying the groundwork for the Zhuque-3 rocket’s maiden flight and subsequent recovery, marking a significant stride towards realising the company’s goal of high-frequency launches.
This achievement is being hailed as a breakthrough for China’s burgeoning space industry, which is increasingly focused on reducing launch costs and improving launch frequency. With the successful completion of this test, China is positioning itself as a formidable player in the global space race, advancing its capabilities in the rapidly evolving commercial space sector.