LandSpace completes China's 1st land recovery of Zhuque-3 1st stage
Big news from China's space scene: a private company, LandSpace, just pulled off China's first successful land-based recovery of an orbital rocket's first stage.
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, its Zhuque-3 rocket launched from the Gobi Desert and not only delivered an internet satellite to orbit but also made a vertical touchdown back on Earth, a major step forward for reusable rockets.
Zhuque-3 supports up to 20 flights
The Zhuque-3 is built tough with stainless steel and runs on liquid methane and oxygen, making it ready for repeated flights (up to 20 times per booster).
After its maiden flight in December, when the rocket's second stage successfully reached orbit but its first stage failed during the final powered descent and erupted in a fireball, LandSpace upgraded its engines and safety systems.
This win helps China ramp up plans for large broadband constellations such as Guowang and Qianfan, each ultimately envisioned to comprise more than 10,000 satellites, while keeping future missions more efficient and affordable.