With several reusable rocket models scheduled for their maiden flights this year, China is advancing its space capabilities, aiming to make space access more affordable and efficient, said a Chinese aerospace expert.
The development aligns with the goals outlined in this year's government work report delivered by Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday at the opening meeting of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) -- China's national legislature -- in Beijing. The report emphasizes safe and healthy growth of emerging industries, including commercial spaceflight.
Reusable rockets, which can return to the Earth and be refurbished for multiple launches, are a game-changer for the aerospace industry. They significantly reduce launch costs and increase launch frequency, making space access more affordable and efficient.
"After rockets can be recovered and reused, the main changes we'll see are faster launch frequencies and, of course, a noticeable reduction in launch costs. This shall bring us closer to the reality of large-scale, rapid, and free access to space. From a technological development perspective, the application of recovery technology will drive upgrades and innovation in our capabilities," said Rong Yi, rocket designer from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
China has been actively advancing reusable rocket technology. Last year, both CASC and private aerospace company LandSpace successfully conducted 10-kilometer vertical takeoff and landing tests for reusable rockets.
This year, several models, including the Zhuque-3 and Tianlong-3, are set to make their debut or undergo further testing. Additionally, China is developing a new generation of crewed rockets, one of which will feature reusable technology.
"Strictly speaking, the new generation of crewed launch vehicles is a series that includes at least two configurations. One is the Long March-10, which everyone is familiar with and which is designed for lunar missions. The other is a smaller rocket primarily for transporting crew and cargo to the space station, which will undergo upgrades. Given its design characteristics, this smaller rocket is well-suited for reuse and recovery, so it has been assigned the additional mission of testing reusable technology. Both models are progressing smoothly and will be unveiled to the public as early as possible," Rong said.