All articles tagged with #reusable rocket
Japan’s JAXA tested a prototype reusable rocket at Noshiro in Akita Prefecture, achieving a ~10‑meter ascent and a safe landing after a ~40‑second flight, marking a step toward lower launch costs via partial reuse amid global advances by SpaceX and China; officials will review data to confirm success and Japan’s rocket-industry competitiveness.
China’s Long March-10B successfully completed its maiden flight and recovered its first-stage booster on a sea-based net, marking the country’s first controlled recovery of a reusable orbital rocket and signaling progress toward lower-cost launches alongside SpaceX and Blue Origin.
The Exploration Company has signaled a move toward a reusable heavy-lift rocket, unveiling a concept named Yrene that would be powered by its Storm engines (nine on the first stage, each about 180 tonnes of thrust) and linked to its Nyx cargo/crew capsule. The project aims to bolster a European capability for launch and transport in space, with a Storm engine reveal planned for an event at the International Aerospace Exhibition. The company later clarified that Yrene is a long-term concept and that its near-term focus remains on capsule and propulsion technologies, and references to Yrene were removed from its website.
China launched its first flight of the Long March 12B rocket from the Jiuquan launch center, sending two satellites for the Qianfan megaconstellation into low Earth orbit. The two-stage, partially reusable booster resembled SpaceX’s Falcon 9 in concept, but the mission did not attempt a booster landing, and the launch occurred without advance airspace notices to the public.
China staged a surprise launch of the Long March 12B, a large, nine-engine booster aimed at future recovery, signaling a push by state-backed players toward reusable orbital launchers and echoing SpaceX‑style design trends.
Blue Origin's New Glenn booster completed a successful landing, signaling a reusable launch vehicle milestone, but AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite reached too-low an orbit and will deorbit, making the overall mission a partial success.
China's second attempt to recover and reuse the Long March 12A rocket failed at the first stage during its maiden flight, highlighting ongoing efforts to develop domestic reusable rocket technology to compete with SpaceX and lower launch costs.
China's first reusable rocket, Zhuque-3, successfully reached orbit but failed to recover its first stage after crashing near the recovery site, leaving the US as the only country with successful orbital booster recovery.
China's LandSpace has achieved a key milestone with its Zhuque-3 reusable rocket, including static fire tests and preparations for an orbital launch expected in late 2025, as part of China's broader ambitions to rival major space powers and develop advanced space transportation systems.
China's LandSpace successfully conducted a static-fire test of its reusable Zhuque-3 rocket, moving closer to its first orbital launch planned before year's end. The rocket, similar to SpaceX's Falcon 9, features a reusable first stage powered by nine Tianque-12A engines using liquid methane and oxygen, and can carry approximately 18,300 kg to low Earth orbit.
Landspace is preparing for China's first orbital launch and potential first-stage recovery of its Zhuque-3 rocket, which aims to deliver cargo to the Tiangong space station. The launch, possibly in November, marks a significant step for China's private space sector and reusable rocket technology, following a series of test preparations and previous rocket failures.
SpaceX's Starship Flight 11 is scheduled for October 13 from Texas, aiming to test the fully reusable launch vehicle and gather data for future missions, including lunar landings and Mars colonization.
ESA's reusable rocket demonstrator Themis has been fully assembled and is now standing on its launch pad in Kiruna, Sweden, marking a significant step towards testing full-scale vertical take-off and landing technologies using cryogenic propulsion.
SpaceX's Starship successfully completed its 10th test flight, meeting all major objectives, including surviving reentry, deploying payloads, and demonstrating engine re-ignition, marking a significant step toward developing a fully reusable launch vehicle for Mars exploration.
Honda successfully tested its first prototype reusable rocket in Japan, achieving a vertical takeoff and landing, with plans to conduct a suborbital launch by 2029, marking a significant step in its space exploration efforts.