Yuanxingzhe-1
A planned reusable rocket with a stainless-steel, methane-burning first stage. Its booster prototype flew to 2.5 km, relit its engines and soft-landed on the sea in May 2025.
Why it matters
A booster that can land and fly again could lower launch costs for Chinese satellite operators. The 2025 sea test showed the engine restart and controlled landing that reuse depends on.
How the technology works
The first stage is 4.2 m in diameter and burns liquid oxygen and methane. In the May 2025 test, the booster rose to 2.5 km, shut down, fell, glided, relit its engines, hovered and touched down on the sea surface.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction