China Achieves Major Breakthrough in Reusable Rockets

China Achieves Major Breakthrough in Reusable Rockets China has reportedly achieved its first successful vertical landing of a space rocket on land. On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Zhuque-3 Y2 launched from the Dongfeng Spaceport in northwestern China before returning and landing vertically using dedicated landing legs. The breakthrough puts China alongside the […]

China Achieves Major Breakthrough in Reusable Rockets

China has reportedly achieved its first successful vertical landing of a space rocket on land.

On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Zhuque-3 Y2 launched from the Dongfeng Spaceport in northwestern China before returning and landing vertically using dedicated landing legs.

The breakthrough puts China alongside the United States and SpaceX in mastering reusable rocket technology—a key step toward dramatically reducing launch costs and making space more accessible.

China is now developing multiple recovery methods, including land and sea-based recovery, as it seeks to expand commercial spaceflight, satellite networks and future space infrastructure.

The successful landing marks a major milestone in China’s growing space ambitions and intensifies the global race for reusable launch technology.