In a surprise launch, China debuts another big rocket designed for reusability
Key points
- The race to field China’s first reusable launch vehicle is far less predictable than a similar competition that played out in the United States a decade ago.
- There was never any real question of which company would develop and demonstrate the first reusable orbital-class rocket in the United States.
- SpaceX landed a Falcon 9 booster for the first time in 2015, and a little more than a year later, it launched it back into space.
- It took nearly 10 years for anyone else to do the same.
- Blue Origin celebrated its first orbital-class booster landing last November with the successful recovery of one of its New Glenn boosters, followed by a relaunch of the same rocket in April.
Quick Summary
The race to field China’s first reusable launch vehicle is far less predictable than a similar competition that played out in the United States a
Why It Matters
This development is important because it may impact public opinion, policy decisions, and future developments related to In a surprise launch, China debuts another big rocket design.
Key Takeaways
- The race to field China’s first reusable launch vehicle is far less predictable than a similar competition that played out in the United States a decade ago.
- There was never any real question of which company would develop and demonstrate the first reusable orbital-class rocket in the United States.
- SpaceX landed a Falcon 9 booster for the first time in 2015, and a little more than a year later, it launched it back into space.
- It took nearly 10 years for anyone else to do the same.
- Blue Origin celebrated its first orbital-class booster landing last November with the successful recovery of one of its New Glenn boosters, followed by a relaunch of the same rocket in April.
📌 Source: Stephen Clark
The BriefWire