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.
According to iSpace, the new ship can handle heavy loads and precisely position itself to capture returning rocket parts even in rough seas. It was built and launched in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, where it will now undergo testing before being sent down the Yangtze River to the coast and then on to Hainan province for delivery in October.
Rocket recovery vessels are designed to retrieve rocket parts like first-stage boosters after launch and then transport them for analysis and reuse, helping companies reduce launch costs.