The Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket blasts off at the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in Northwest China. [Photo/WeChat account: huzhoufabu]

LandSpace's Zhuque-3 Y2 reusable carrier rocket completed its first-stage land recovery on Aug 19, marking China's first successful land recovery of an orbital-class rocket. The rocket was powered by engines manufactured in Huzhou, Zhejiang province.

The 66.1-meter rocket lifted off at 7:35 am from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and sent the Honghu 03 satellite into its preset orbit. After separating from the second stage, the first stage returned through the atmosphere, reignited its engine for powered deceleration, deployed four landing legs and touched down upright at a recovery site in Minqin county, Gansu province, about 390 kilometers from the launch site.

The mission makes LandSpace the first Chinese private space company to recover an orbital-class rocket booster on land. It also means China has now demonstrated both land- and sea-based rocket recovery capabilities, following the successful sea recovery of a Long March 10B first-stage booster last month.

The Zhuque-3 Y2 first stage is powered by nine Tianque-12A liquid oxygen-methane fueled rocket engines. The engines, which provide the thrust needed for both launch and recovery, are made at LandSpace's propulsion manufacturing base in Huzhou.

According to Dong Kai, deputy chief designer of Zhuque-3, the first stage accounts for more than 70 percent of the rocket's manufacturing cost and is designed for at least 20 reuses, which could help reduce the cost of individual launches.