China’s reusable Long March 12A rocket experienced a setback during its second recovery attempt, with the first stage failing to return safely after its inaugural flight on Tuesday. The second stage successfully reached its intended orbit, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the state-owned developer. CASC has not disclosed the cause of the failed recovery but said it is conducting further analysis.
Reusable rockets are central to reducing launch costs and boosting satellite deployment efficiency—a capability mastered years ago by Elon Musk’s SpaceX with its Falcon 9 rockets. Despite launching dozens of satellites into low-Earth orbit in recent years, China has yet to achieve a successful reusable rocket landing.
The race to develop domestic reusable rockets has intensified, with private firm Landspace attempting a full reusable test earlier this month with Zhuque-3, which also failed to recover its booster. CASC, a state-owned conglomerate with over 100,000 employees, contrasts sharply with Landspace’s smaller startup operations of fewer than 2,000 staff.
Why It Matters:
Reusability is a critical step for China to compete with SpaceX in satellite launches and space technology. A successful domestic reusable rocket would reduce costs, accelerate space infrastructure, and strengthen China’s position in the global aerospace sector.
What’s Next:
China will continue testing reusable rockets, analyzing failures to improve designs. Both state-owned and private firms are racing to develop a reliable booster recovery system, with the next successful test being crucial to narrowing the gap with SpaceX’s proven technology.
With information from Reuters.
