China wants to start reusing its rockets for space missions and aims to catch them using wires.
Reusable rockets are being developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the country’s state-owned main space contractor.
CASC makes China’s Long March rockets.
The space and defense giant aims to debut its first two reusable rockets in 2025 and 2026.
Related: China will launch giant, reusable rockets next year to prep for human missions to the moon While inspired by the overwhelming success of the SpaceX Falcon 9, China’s approach will be slightly different.
But instead of using landing legs, the rocket will deploy hooks near its top, which will be caught by tightwires.
A video released by state media China Central Television (CCTV) shows a human-rated rocket, the Long March 10, with the tell-tale, cross-shaped crew escape system on top, lifting off.
Finally, the rocket stage guides itself, using retropropulsion, to a sea landing stage, where it is caught by the tightening wires as it descends.
Chinese rockets are intended to be captured using wires in order to begin their reuse for space missions.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the nation’s principal space contractor and a state-owned enterprise, is developing reusable rockets. China’s Long March takes off thanks to CASC.
The massive space and defense company plans to launch its first two reusable rockets in 2025 and 2026. These seem to have something to do with China’s plans for lunar and human space travel.
Related: To prepare for human lunar missions, China will launch massive, reusable rockets the following year.
China will take a slightly different approach, albeit one that is influenced by the tremendous success of the SpaceX Falcon 9. Similar to the Falcon 9, the rocket’s first stage will continue to use variable-thrust engines to slow its descent. The rocket will release hooks near the top of it that will be caught by tightwires, in place of landing legs, though.
An image of the Long March 10, a human-rated rocket with a visible crew escape system shaped like a cross on top, taking off was released by China Central Television (CCTV), the state media. Subsequently, its core stage exhibits a reentry burn and grid fin guidance.
Eventually, the rocket stage uses retropropulsion to navigate itself to a sea landing stage, where it descends and is captured by tightening wires.
