Chinese state-owned company Expace announced successful flight tests of the Kuaizhou reusable launch vehicle prototype; During this test, the device briefly took off from the launch pad and landed back. This situation was officially reported page Expace on the WeChat social network.
According to Expace, the total flight time was 22 seconds, of which the device spent nine seconds suspended in the air. The rocket engine ran on methane and liquid oxygen. Explaining that the landing position was correct and the rocket body was not damaged, the company described the test mission as a complete success.
Expace, also known as CASIC Rocket Technology Company, operates under China’s state-owned aerospace and defense giant CASIC. CASIC plays an important role in China’s space industry and aims to develop its own rockets in parallel with CASC Corporation, a subsidiary of the Long March family that produces disposable launch vehicles.
Expace has carried out two orbital launches of the Kuaizhou series single-use solid-fuel rockets since the beginning of 2024.
China has previously successfully started three research satellites.