Dongfeng, China, Aug. 20 – Chinese private space company LandSpace has achieved a major milestone in reusable rocket technology by successfully recovering an orbital-class booster from its Zhuque-3 rocket following an orbital launch. On August 19, 2026, the vehicle lifted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone in northwestern China and deployed a satellite into orbit before the first stage returned safely to Earth. This accomplishment establishes LandSpace as a key player in advanced space launch systems and underscores progress in commercial aerospace development.
The booster executed a precise powered descent and soft vertical landing with deployable legs at a designated site in Minqin County, Gansu Province, roughly 390 kilometers downrange from the launch facility. This represents the first successful ground-based recovery of an orbital-class booster by a Chinese private firm, highlighting reliable engineering for controlled atmospheric reentry and precise touchdown capabilities essential to modern launch operations.
Chinese startup LandSpace has joined SpaceX and Blue Origin as one of the only private companies to land an orbital-class booster. pic.twitter.com/GrCH0BBRLt
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 19, 2026
Featuring a stainless-steel structure and nine methane-liquid oxygen engines, the Zhuque-3 rocket prioritizes durability and performance for repeated use. Successful recovery of the first stage opens pathways to booster reuse, which can substantially lower the costs of space launches while enabling higher-frequency commercial missions and efficient satellite deployment across low Earth orbit.
This advance strengthens China’s position in the global commercial space sector and supports broader goals of sustainable space exploration through reusable rocket systems. LandSpace intends to integrate recovered boosters into upcoming flights within months, fostering more accessible and economical orbital access that benefits scientific research, telecommunications, and expanding aerospace industry applications worldwide.