Space.com
• Mike Wall
Newly released video shows LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 rocket exploding during its first attempt to land the reusable first stage, offering a close look at the spectacle and the risks facing China’s emerging commercial launch sector as it develops orbital-class recovery capability.
China
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Newly released video shows LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 rocket exploding during its first attempt to land the reusable first stage, offering a close look at the spectacle and the risks facing China’s emerging commercial launch sector as it develops orbital-class recovery capability.
Shanghai has started work on a wharf designed to connect a planned commercial rocket manufacturing hub with sea-launch operations, according to Chinese commercial space sources. The infrastructure would link production and maritime launch activity within the city’s emerging commercial space ecosystem.
Chinese commercial launch provider Galactic Energy is targeting Sept. 1 for the first orbital flight of its Pallas-1 liquid-propellant rocket, according to airspace closure notices. The planned mission marks the company’s entry into orbital operations with a new launch vehicle.
Bangladesh is preparing a draft agreement for the Chengdu J-10CE ahead of formal negotiations with Beijing, moving Dhaka closer to becoming the fighter’s second foreign operator. The prospective acquisition would advance the country’s broader effort to modernize its air force through new combat aircraft and attack helicopters.
China’s J-35A is described as entering service, advancing toward carrier operations and being marketed for export, while a U.S. government report puts the F-35 program’s cost increase at about $51 billion since late 2023. The comparison also highlights the F-22’s high unit cost and the canceled FB-22 concept.
High activity
China has rolled back the Long March 5 rocket for Chang’e-7, potentially delaying the lunar mission by a year, even as Long March 6C returned to flight with seven Earth-imaging satellites. Japan’s Sarmony selected Space One’s Kairos, while CAS Space targets early 2027 for its Kinastra upper stage.
High activity
SpaceX has completed its 260th and final Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Florida, with future East Coast deployments shifting to Starship. The transition comes as the company expands Starbase Louisiana, planned with more than 12 launch towers and a reported $100 billion investment target for 2029.
Bangladesh has prepared draft documents for negotiations with China over J-10CE fighter jets and with Turkey over attack helicopters, as Dhaka seeks budgetary support for a 2026–27 procurement program to modernize its air force. Officials cited the J-10CE’s performance against India’s Rafale as a consideration.
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Hype's China news stream aggregates the latest developments and strategic movements within China's aerospace and defense sectors. Our coverage includes advancements in aircraft manufacturing, space exploration initiatives, and the evolving role of China in the global aerospace market, providing professionals with the critical information needed to understand this major player's impact on international dynamics.
