China's reusable carrier rocket completed its first successful 10-kilometer VTOL test on June 23.

China's reusable carrier rocket completed its first successful 10-kilometer vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) test on June 23 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the test marks the country's largest VTOL flight test for a reusable carrier rocket and the first application of its domestically developed deep variable-thrust liquid oxygen-methane engine on a 10-kilometer return flight. The rocket's VTOL configuration, heavy-load landing buffer technology, and reusable propulsion technology were fully verified during the test.

June 23, 2024
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