Advances in reusable rocket development in China
Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) February 10, 2025
China’s commercial reusable rocket industry has made great strides, leading to an increase in demand from major satellite internet constellations such as Guowang and Spacesail. This demand drives advances in rocket technology, materials and testing processes.
Meng Xianbo, chief strategy officer at Beijing-based Galactic Energy, emphasized that these market forces catalyze the continued innovation of reusable launch systems. Galactic Energy is actively developing two reusable rockets, the Pallas-1 and Pallas-2. The Pallas-1, a two-stage rocket fueled with liquid oxygen and kerosene, weighs about 290 meters on launch and is carried into low Earth orbit up to 8 tons. The maiden’s flight is scheduled for the first half of this year, with two commercial missions planned.
Built on the Pallas-1 platform, the Pallas-2 will provide an increase in payload capacity of 30 tons for low Earth orbit, and is expected to complete assembly and testing within a year.
Landspace, a leading Chinese space company, successfully conducted a 10-kilometer vertical takeoff and landing recovery test of its Zhuque-3 rocket last September. This marked the first vertical takeoff and landing recovery by a Chinese rocket using liquid oxygen and methane engines. The Zhuque-3 is on track for its first launch, with three missions planned this year.
“These missions collectively provide a payload of around 60 tons. Our aim is to achieve successful recovery of the first stage of the rocket within these flights,” said Landspace CEO. Zhang Changwu said.
Meanwhile, I-Space is moving forward with a commercial reusable rocket program with the SQX-2Y. The company completed vertical takeoff and landing flight tests on November 2nd and December 10th, 2023. Lessons from these flights inform the development of the SQX-3, the next generation of reusable rocket. Recovery test this December.
Following the recovery of the first phase, the rocket will be renovated and a new second stage will be installed to carry out its first reuse flight in June next year, according to Ji Haibo, I-Space’s assistant general manager . Construction of the SQX-3’s first mission’s maritime recovery platform began last November.
Deep Blue aerospace is also making progress on reusable Nebula 1 rockets with liquid oxygen and kerosene. The company has announced plans for a commercial suborbital flight to commence in 2027. Nebula 1 successfully completed 10 of 11 important validation tests during a vertical recovery flight test in the highlands on September 22nd last year.
A wide range of high-altitude recovery tests are planned for 2025 and 2026, further evaluating the feasibility and stability of the technology. The collected data support efforts to achieve full orbital launch and recovery capabilities.
Huo Liang, founder and chairman of Deep Blue Aerospace, believes that advances in Rocket’s reusability will significantly reduce travel costs for spaces, making it more accessible to a wider audience.
“We aim to help more people experience space travel, promote greater interest in space exploration, and broaden human understanding of space,” Huo said.
Related links
Galactic Energy
Rocket Science News on Space-Travel.com
