Tag: rocket
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What Does “Y” Mean in Chinese Rocket Designations?
Whenever China launches a rocket, its name often includes the Chinese character “遥” (Yao, Y). Examples include the Long March 2F Y23, Long March 5 Y6, and Zhuque-3 Y2 launch vehicles. So what exactly does “Y” mean, and where did this naming convention come from? “Y” is short for “Yaoce” (遥测, telemetry), and its origins…
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ESA Shelves Ariane 6 Block 3 Upgrade Plans as Europe Prioritizes Launch Cadence and Near-Term Competitiveness
The European Space Agency (ESA) has shelved plans for the Ariane 6 Block 3 upgrade, marking a significant shift in Europe’s launch strategy as officials focus resources on increasing Ariane 6 production and flight rates rather than pursuing a major performance enhancement program. The decision effectively pauses one of the most ambitious future evolutions of…
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SpaceX Pushes First Starship Tower Catch Attempt to Later This Year as Reusability Campaign Advances
SpaceX is now targeting its first attempt to catch a returning Starship upper stage with the launch tower “chopstick” arms within the next few months, a shift from earlier expectations that the milestone could occur on the vehicle’s next flight. The updated timeline came from CEO Elon Musk, who said the company’s first Starship tower-catch…
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China Achieves First Land-Based Recovery of an Orbital-Class Rocket Booster as Zhuque-3 Returns Upright
Source: LandSpace Technology Corporation Ltd. China has successfully completed its first land-based recovery of an orbital-class launch vehicle first stage using powered vertical landing and landing legs, marking a major milestone in the country’s reusable launch vehicle development. At 7:35 a.m. Beijing time on August 19, Zhuque-3 Y2, a reusable launch vehicle developed by LandSpace…
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Commercial Space 2.0: Where Are the Opportunities for China’s Second-Generation Rocket Companies?
China’s commercial rocket industry officially began to take shape in 2015, when three government ministries jointly issued guidelines encouraging its development. Looking back from where the industry stands today, it took a decade for China to largely complete its policy framework and develop a basic supply chain. That period also saw the arrival of market…
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Deep Blue Aerospace Partners with AME Aviation to Build a Smart Manufacturing Foundation for Reusable Rockets
In August 2026, Jiangsu Deep Blue Aerospace Co., Ltd. and Hangzhou AME Aviation Manufacturing Equipment Co., Ltd. formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement at AME Aviation’s industrial park in Hangzhou. The cross-sector partnership brings together one of China’s leading developers of reusable liquid-fueled rockets and a specialized innovator in intelligent aerospace manufacturing. The two companies…
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China Successfully Launches SEO Satellite in 664th Long March Rocket Mission
China successfully launched an SEO satellite aboard a Long March-2C carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 11:02 a.m. on August 17. The satellite entered its designated orbit, marking the successful completion of the mission. The launch marked the 664th flight of China’s Long March carrier rocket series. It came just seven days…
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China’s Smart Dragon-3 rocket successfully launches 2 satellites from sea
HAIYANG, Shandong, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) — A carrier rocket launched from waters off east China’s Shandong Province Wednesday has sent two hyperspectral satellites into orbit, which are expected to support high-precision observation in China and large-scale monitoring of land and sea worldwide. The Smart Dragon-3 (SD-3) carrier rocket blasted off at 10:38 a.m. (Beijing Time)…
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China’s Commercial Space Sector: 2026 Mid-Year Review
China maintained a high launch cadence in the first half of 2026, while its commercial space sector built on the growth momentum of 2025 and continued to strengthen its industrial fundamentals. By the end of June, China had conducted 44 space launches and placed a total of 223 satellites into their designated orbits. The commercial…
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Epic Milestone: The World’s First Offshore Net-Based Rocket Recovery — A Comprehensive Analysis of the Long March 10B and Related Companies
On July 10, 2026, the Long March 10B achieved a historic breakthrough by completing China’s first recovery of a rocket first stage, making China the second country in the world—after the United States—to recover a reusable rocket. According to China Central Television, the Long March 10B carrier rocket, developed by the China Academy of Launch…