China’s initial attempt to launch and recover a reusable rocket, the Zhuque-3, ended in failure. This setback leaves the United States as the current leader in the race towards reusable rocket technology. The launch was carried out by Beijing-based private firm Galactic Energy, which confirmed the failure on their official WeChat account, stating that the rocket was unable to achieve a glide flight after re-entry.
The Zhuque-3 is a reusable liquid-propellant rocket, designed to be capable of vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL), similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Galactic Energy aims to reduce the cost of space launches by developing reusable rockets, a goal shared by many other companies in the space industry. However, due to the failure in the recovery of Zhuque-3, the company will need to revisit their methods and technology.
The launch took place at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China, with the rocket carrying a small satellite, the CubeSat Xiaoxiang-1 14. The satellite was successfully put into orbit, demonstrating that the launch vehicle’s primary function was successful. However, the failure to recover the rocket indicates issues with the reusability aspect of the design.
This failure is a notable setback for China’s space industry, as the country is making significant strides in space exploration and satellite technology. China has launched several high-profile missions in recent years, including the Chang’e 5 lunar mission and the Tianwen-1 Mars mission. The country is also planning to build its own space station, the Tiangong, with the first module already launched.
The reusable rocket technology race is currently led by US-based SpaceX, which has successfully launched, landed, and reused several of its Falcon 9 rockets. This technology significantly reduces the cost of space travel and makes space more accessible for scientific research, commercial activities, and potentially even tourism.
Despite the setback, Galactic Energy stated that they will continue to optimize their technology and make improvements to achieve their goal of a reusable rocket. The company also mentioned that they plan to conduct another flight test within a year. Undoubtedly, the lessons learned from this failure will be valuable for future attempts.
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