Summary of Key Points
On August 19th, the Zhuque-3 Yao-2 rocket developed by LandSpace successfully completed both orbit insertion and on-ground recovery, becoming the first domestic carrier rocket to achieve both objectives. This success was achieved after the failure of the previous Yao-1 mission, through improvements such as simplifying the propulsion system, upgrading the control system, and strengthening the structure. The rocket uses a combination of liquid oxygen and methane fuel, along with stainless steel, which offers advantages in terms of cleanliness, low cost, and ease of mass production. Experts believe that this marks a significant milestone for China's reusable rockets, as they have moved from the ability to develop such rockets to the stage of determining who can first successfully commercialize them. However, a single successful mission does not necessarily mean immediate cost reduction; more tests are needed to verify the stability of the technology. Nevertheless, this breakthrough is of great significance for boosting industry confidence and transforming the aerospace supply chain.
What Makes This Recovery So Remarkable?
The success of Zhuque-3 Yao-2 lies in two key aspects: first, it successfully completed both orbit insertion and recovery (whereas Yao-1 only managed to enter orbit but failed to recover); second, it was the first time in China that a rocket used landing legs for on-ground recovery. Although there may have been previous attempts at rocket recovery in China, they either failed to reach orbit or used different recovery methods (such as sea-based recovery). In this mission, the first stage of the rocket returned from space and was capable of autonomously adjusting its attitude, decelerating, and deploying its landing legs to land. This demonstrates the core capability of reusable rockets—ensuring that the most expensive part of the rocket can be recycled and reused, thereby reducing costs.
Why Was This Success Possible?
The team made several key improvements following the failure of Yao-1:
1. Simplification of the propulsion system: They removed some engines used for landing, reducing potential points of failure (similar to removing unnecessary parts from a car to make it more reliable).
2. Upgrading the control system: They added a feature to predict whether the landing site was safe and adjusted the return control strategy (equivalent to giving the rocket a smarter navigation system to avoid dangers and land smoothly).
3. Strengthening the structure: They reinforced the heat shield at the rear of the rocket and the connections between the engines (like adding a thicker protective layer to prevent damage from atmospheric friction during re-entry, ensuring that components do not become loose).
These improvements significantly enhanced the autonomy and safety of the rocket's recovery process.
What Are the Advantages of the Liquid Oxygen/Methane and Stainless Steel Combination Used by Zhuque-3?
Experts from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics highlighted three benefits of this combination:
1. Clean and easy to maintain: The combustion of liquid oxygen and methane produces only carbon dioxide and water, unlike traditional kerosene fuels that can cause carbon buildup (similar to using natural gas instead of coal, which is cleaner and prevents engine blockages). Additionally, the boiling points of liquid oxygen and methane are close, allowing for more compact fuel tanks.
2. Low cost and easy mass production: Stainless steel is cheaper than high-end alloys, and its welding process is simpler (like using ordinary steel for fuel tanks, which saves costs compared to titanium alloys), enabling rapid mass production.
3. Suitable for reuse: Stainless steel maintains its strength at low temperatures and can withstand high temperatures (due to the heat generated during re-entry), making it ideal for multiple reuses.
However, there are still challenges to overcome, such as ensuring that the engines can adjust their thrust flexibly, ignite without errors, and provide adequate heat protection.
Can Launch Costs Really Be Reduced with This Success? How Long Until Commercialization?
Experts are realistic about the prospects:
- Cost reduction is a trend, but not immediate: A single successful recovery does not guarantee cost reduction; it depends on how many times the rocket can be reused (for example, if designed for 20 uses, actual usage will determine the cost per use).
- Commercialization still takes time: This is just a successful test; more tests are needed to ensure stability. Moreover, commercial spaceflight is influenced by policies and technological maturity (similar to how drug trials do not lead to immediate market availability).
- Industry confidence has increased: This breakthrough gives the industry hope for China's reusable rockets, providing a boost to the sector.
Some industry insiders estimate that if rockets can be reused more than 20 times, launch costs could potentially drop to around 20,000 yuan per kilogram (although this depends on further verification).
What Impact Does This Have on the Aerospace Supply Chain?
The views of Tang Xunfang, a partner in the industry, are crucial:
1. Shift in industry focus: Rockets will transition from being disposable items to maintainable transportation tools, shifting the industry's emphasis from manufacturing new rockets to repairing and launching existing ones (similar to transitioning from selling disposable chopsticks to reusable tableware with cleaning services).
2. Alleviation of supply-demand imbalances: Reusable rockets can reduce costs, making satellite networking projects more feasible (for example, launching 100 satellites may become more affordable).
3. Positive impact on the entire chain: Satellite companies will be more inclined to launch satellites, and upstream suppliers of engines and materials will also benefit (similar to how SpaceX's rocket recovery efforts increased the number of satellites in orbit globally). However, this will only happen when there are 3-4 mature reusable rocket companies in China.
In summary, the success of Zhuque-3 is a significant milestone for China's commercial space industry. Although there is still a way to go before achieving true cost reduction and commercialization, this step brings us one step closer to the goal of launching rockets as routinely as flying airplanes.