The first vertical takeoff and landing test (VTVL) for the Zhuque-3 reusable methane-powered carrier rocket was successfully conducted in the Gobi Desert in northwestern China on Friday afternoon, according to its developer LandSpace, a Chinese commercial aerospace company. The company said that the test flight lasted for about 60 seconds, with the trial rocket reaching a height of approximately 350 meters above the ground. The rocket landed 100 meters away from the liftoff point with a precisio

LANDSPACE's Zhuque-3, a VTVL (Vertical Takeoff, Vertical Landing) rocket, successfully completes a 60-second hopping recovery flight. This crucial test evaluates the rocket's throttle control, navigation, and landing gear systems, demonstrating its advanced capabilities for precision landing and reusability. Such hopping flights are essential, as they validate the technology needed for rockets to land safely and be used again, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of space technology.