The Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket stands ready at a launch site in Northwest China. [Photo/WeChat account: nanhuwanbao]

China achieved its first successful land-based vertical rocket recovery on Aug 19, when the first-stage booster of the Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket was launched in Northwest China and landed successfully in Minqin county, Gansu province.

The rocket was assembled and tested in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, and uses nine parallel liquid oxygen-methane engines made in Huzhou. Designed for up to 20 reuses, it aims to cut launch costs to less than 20,000 yuan ($2,967.87) per kilogram, with technical specifications benchmarked against SpaceX's Falcon 9.

The success followed a failed recovery attempt during the Y1 mission. After 60 days of troubleshooting, the team optimized the landing propulsion and onboard safety and control systems to improve recovery reliability. The recovered booster has undergone an initial inspection and is scheduled for another flight within six months.

The successful recovery marks a new stage in China's commercial space industry as it moves toward reusable launch vehicles. China has also become the only country to have mastered both net-based and landing-leg recovery methods.