China has marked a significant milestone in space technology by successfully launching its second reusable rocket within a month. This achievement underscores the country’s expanding capabilities in cost-effective and sustainable space exploration.

On Monday, a Long March 12A rocket, comparable in size to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:00 pm EST (02:00 UTC Tuesday). This marks its first flight, demonstrating China’s progress in developing reusable launch systems aimed at reducing launch costs.

Within ten minutes, the rocket’s methane-powered first stage streaked back through the atmosphere at supersonic speeds, impacting a remote area about 200 miles downrange. Unlike SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which lands its boosters near the launch site, this booster did not complete a controlled landing, highlighting ongoing challenges in refining recovery techniques.

Experts see this as a crucial step toward establishing fully reusable launch vehicles. According to aerospace analyst Dr. Elena Petrova, “China’s rapid progress in reusability technology reflects strategic investment and growing expertise in space engineering.”

This milestone raises questions about future plans for China’s space program, including whether subsequent launches will achieve successful booster recoveries. It also emphasizes the global race to develop reliable, sustainable reusable rockets in the era of increasing commercial space activity.

David Nield

Dave is a freelance tech journalist with over 20 years covering gadgets, apps, and the web. From Stockport, England, he covers news, features, and reviews for TechRadar, focusing on phones, tablets, and wearables. He ensures top weekend breaking news and has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci, and others. He edited PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook for years. Read me on x.com or linkedin.