LandSpace’s reusable rocket booster crashes in bold but flawed test flight

A near-miss landing reveals both the risks and rapid strides of China’s private space sector. Can LandSpace outpace Elon Musk’s five-year prediction?

, and Administrator

2025 December 3 . 10:03 AM

1 min read

As we can see in the image there is a rocket, buildings, trees and sky.

LandSpace’s reusable rocket booster crashes in bold but flawed test flight

A Chinese private space company, LandSpace, has made its first attempt to land a reusable rocket booster. The company launched its Zhuque-3 rocket into orbit on Wednesday, but the booster failed to return safely. Despite the failure, the booster came close to its intended landing zone, a result some observers called 'impressive'.

LandSpace aims to cut launch costs and speed up turnaround times by developing reusable rockets, similar to SpaceX's approach. The company has set ambitious goals, including matching SpaceX’s capabilities and supporting China’s Tiangong Space Station from 2026. Elon Musk previously predicted it would take LandSpace more than five years to reach SpaceX’s reliability and production rates.

China’s commercial space sector has expanded rapidly over the past decade. Multiple firms are now working on reusable rocket technology, with the government establishing a new department to oversee the industry. Reusable rockets are also seen as crucial for military and defence applications.

The failed landing attempt highlights the challenges of reusable rocket technology. LandSpace remains focused on refining its systems to compete with global leaders like SpaceX. China’s growing commercial space sector continues to push for advancements in cost-efficient and rapid launch capabilities.