China launches first SpaceX-style drone ship to recover reusable rockets
The launch of the drone ship marks a step forward for China’s push to develop reusable rockets, a technology currently monopolised by the US
China has launched its first drone ship to recover reusable rockets – becoming only the second country after the United States to master the technology – as Beijing pushes forward with its ambitious space programme.
The new vessel – named the Xingji Guihang, or “Interstellar Return” – was developed by the Beijing-based private aerospace firm iSpace, and it will eventually be used to recover reusable rockets developed by several Chinese manufacturers.
“The vessel is designed for the launch of iSpace’s SQX-3 rocket later this year,” the company said in an article published on Tuesday. “In the future, it will also be compatible with sea recovery missions for various medium-to-large reusable rockets.”
Like SpaceX’s drone ships, the iSpace vessel is equipped with a dynamic positioning system and can operate autonomously. It has a recovery deck area of 2,400 square metres – large enough to fit a returning first-stage rocket booster.