China recovers rocket stage on land for first time, after earlier recovery at sea

China has successfully recaptured the first stage of a rocket on land for the first time, state media reported Wednesday. This marks China’s first successful recovery on land, following a previous successful recovery on a sea platform in July. The reusable rocket, Zhuque-3, was launched Wednesday morning, and its first stage was recovered afterward. Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency, described this as a major breakthrough in China’s reusable rocket technology, using deployable landing legs for the first time. Earlier, on July 10, the first stage of a Long March-10B rocket separated from the second stage after liftoff and returned to a sea platform, where it was recovered using a net-capture system. Meanwhile, Japan conducted its first test flight of an experimental reusable rocket on July 11, landing safely. Both countries are focused on reducing launch costs and competing in the global space market, with China and Japan aiming to improve their reusable rocket technologies.