Beijing: China’s private rocket company LandSpace is moving closer to the global space race as it works to develop reusable rocket technology and narrow the gap with SpaceX, the industry leader founded by Elon Musk.
Earlier this month, LandSpace carried out China’s first reusable rocket test by a private firm using its Zhuque 3 launcher. The test marked a major milestone, even though the booster did not complete a successful landing. Engineers said the flight still helped validate several key systems needed for future recovery attempts.
The company plans to continue testing through 2026 and aims to achieve a controlled booster recovery by the middle of next year. If successful, this would allow LandSpace to reuse rockets and sharply reduce launch costs, a breakthrough that has helped SpaceX dominate the commercial launch market.
LandSpace is also preparing for a public listing in Shanghai after completing regulatory steps required for an initial public offering. China has recently relaxed listing rules for high technology space firms, giving startups more room to raise capital even before turning profitable.
Company officials say LandSpace is learning from global leaders but is building its own engineering approach rather than copying foreign designs. They add that China’s private space sector is still young but is moving quickly as demand grows for satellite launches and space based services.
While SpaceX remains far ahead in terms of launch frequency and proven reusability, LandSpace’s progress shows that China’s private rocket makers are beginning to play a more serious role in the global space industry. The coming year will be crucial as the company tries to turn promising tests into reliable reusable launches.