China's Zhuque-3 Reaches Orbit but Booster Explodes in Failed Landing Attempt
China’s private launch company, LandSpace, successfully sent its Zhuque-3 rocket to low Earth orbit on its maiden flight, delivering its payload with an expendable upper stage. But the mission took a dramatic turn during recovery when one of the booster’s engines stalled in the landing burn, causing the stage to erupt in flames just meters from the pad. Despite the explosive failure, LandSpace says the flight validated key systems and provided crucial data to advance China’s reusable-rocket development.
