2-MIN READ2-MIN5ListenPublished: 8:28am, 19 Aug 2026Updated: 9:10am, 19 Aug 2026In a global first, China’s leading commercial rocket company LandSpace has recovered a stainless-steel booster after an orbital launch, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to develop lower-cost, reusable rockets.The successful mission makes Zhuque-3 China’s first commercial rocket to both reach orbit and have its first stage recovered.SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster, which is also made of stainless steel, is awaiting US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for its first recovery flight to send the Starship into orbit.Reusable Chinese rocket returns after launch
SRCSouth China Morning Post
LANGEN
LEANCenter-Right
WORDS93
ENT9
WED · 2026-08-19 · 00:28 GMTBRIEF NSR-2026-0819-103637
NSR-2026-0819-103637News Report·EN·Technology
China’s LandSpace beats SpaceX with steel-booster recovery after orbital launch
China's commercial rocket company LandSpace has achieved a global first by recovering a stainless-steel booster following an orbital launch. This successful mission of the Zhuque-3 rocket marks a significant advancement in China's pursuit of developing more affordable, reusable rockets.
Ling Xin,Victoria BelaSouth China Morning PostFiled 2026-08-19 · 00:28 GMTLean · Center-RightRead · 1 min
South China Morning PostFIG 01
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93words
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Briefing Summary
AI-generatedNEWSAR · AI
China's commercial rocket company LandSpace has achieved a global first by recovering a stainless-steel booster following an orbital launch. This successful mission of the Zhuque-3 rocket marks a significant advancement in China's pursuit of developing more affordable, reusable rockets. The Zhuque-3 is now China's first commercial rocket to successfully reach orbit and have its first stage recovered. In comparison, SpaceX's stainless-steel Super Heavy booster is awaiting approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration for its initial recovery flight. This development highlights progress in reusable rocket technology.
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SpaceX's Super Heavy booster is awaiting FAA approval for its first recovery flight to send Starship into orbit.
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SpaceX's Super Heavy booster is also made of stainless steel.
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This mission makes Zhuque-3 China's first commercial rocket to both reach orbit and have its first stage recovered.
factualLandSpace
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China's LandSpace recovered a stainless-steel booster after an orbital launch.
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9 termsreusable rockets
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steel booster recovery
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orbital launch
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landspace
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zhuque-3
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spacex
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commercial rocket company
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lower-cost rockets
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stainless steel
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