Zhukai-3 Rocket Lands on Legs in China

A Feat of New Gravity in China

Six weeks ago, China executed one of the most daring maneuvers in space travel — it caught a falling rocket booster in a net at sea. Here’s the follow-up: This morning, the event unfolded differently. This time, a startup called Landspace built a rocket named Zhukai-3 with an ambitious plan: let it land on its own legs. It lifted off at 7.35 AM from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Zone in northwest China. The Honghu-03 satellite was successfully released into orbit. The rocket's first stage then turned around and came home to land upright on a dedicated pad. This victory makes it China’s first booster recovery on land, and the first time that a booster has landed on legs — a nod to the SpaceX model.

China's Space Ambitions

Landing a rocket booster on its own legs is a big step for an ascending space power. China has watched the private companies in the U.S., and particularly SpaceX, achieve this feat. But the Zhukai-3 represents a significant benchmark that China can call its own. China's rocket technology is evolving towards becoming more competitive in the global market. The private company Landspace, assisted by the government's space programme, now represents a new phase. For the first time, a private corporation has landed a rocket first stage on legs. This achievement matches SpaceX’s innovation and shows that China's researchers have been actively learning from global successes. If successful, this will not only affirm China's capabilities in space exploration, but also possibly signify a shift in its strategy towards more commercially sustainable space programmes.

Zhukai-3’s Mechanics

The Zhukai-3 rocket is a marvel of engineering. The booster can throttle down to 40% of its thrust, a vital feature to enable controlled landing. The booster itself is a towering 66 meters tall, powered by nine Tiankei-12A engines. It pushed 11.8 tonnes into low Earth orbit if the booster is expendable, or 8 tonnes if it lands safely. The rocket uses a single engine for the final descent. It was rebuilt from an earlier version of the booster that failed to land correctly. During this successful landing, the rocket came down 390 kilometers downstream with the aid of a dedicated landing pad, which it settled onto with its four legs. The first leg-grabbing method for an orbital booster in China is a great achievement, especially since it was built by a private company. It is also the second flight of the Zhukai-3 rocket — which serves as a remarkable accomplishment.

Creating a Private Slingshot

This achievement, however, is not without setbacks. The previous attempt in July saw the booster crashing next to the landing pad rather than on it. This flaw was instructive to the team. The engineers did not outright change everything. Instead, they "set it up for success" with extra fuel and other tweaks. The single-engine used in the latter part of the landing has an important role. It's built for throttling down to 40% of its rated power. This level of control isn't feasible through most rocket designs. The throttle control and the landing legs allow the boosters to be reused. This reuse is essential. As the speaker explains, without successful returns, the maths behind space constellations falls apart. The rocket hardware must be capable of flying multiple times.

Looking Ahead

Next up is the Zhukai-3E, an extended version. The booster is designed to deliver 18.3 tonnes into orbit, and it's planned to fly up to 20 times. The short-term goal for the Zhukai-3E is to push to a higher altitude, increase the payload, and increase the number of flights.

Your Guide to Watching Chinese Rocket Launches

When watching a rocket launch, there are a few key elements to note. Pay attention to the launch site — for example, the visual summary illustrating that this launch occurred in northwest China (the Dongfeng Commercial Space Zone). What to Watch for:

• The Engines: The Tiankei-12A engines power the vehicle with substantial thrust and can throttle down, which is what makes a controlled landing possible. The landing also requires precise engine control over the booster.
• The Landing: Zhukai-3 is the first rocket to land on legs. Two details to look out for are the engine control and the landing legs. The booster achieved this with a single engine throttling down to 40% as it came in for a landing.
• The Payload: Honghu-03 was the payload from this particular launch. However, the booster’s performance will vary depending on the payload. If the booster is expendable, it can push about 11.8 tonnes to low Earth orbit. There’s a lot going on in a rocket launch, so spend time looking through a few more details. Watching with a list of things to look for will help you to learn about a rocket’s performance, and you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for rocket launches.