Latest news with #droneship
South China Morning Post
08-08-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
China launches first SpaceX-style drone ship to recover reusable rockets
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 launch of the new vessel marks a major step forward for China's push to develop reusable rockets – a technology seen as vital to helping the country cut the cost of space travel and develop a commercial space industry Beijing aims to catch up with the US in an intensifying space race by replicating America's approach of combining state and private sector investment , which paved the way for Elon Musk's SpaceX to drive a series of technological breakthroughs. 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.
South China Morning Post
08-08-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
China launches new SpaceX-style drone ship to recover reusable rockets
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. Advertisement The launch of the new vessel marks a major step forward for China's push to develop reusable rockets – a technology seen as vital to helping the country cut the cost of space travel and develop a commercial space industry Beijing aims to catch up with the US in an intensifying space race by replicating America's approach of combining state and private sector investment , which paved the way for Elon Musk's SpaceX to drive a series of technological breakthroughs. 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.' Advertisement 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.
