China has completed its first vertical takeoff and landing test of a reusable rocket at an altitude of 10 kilometers on June 23 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

At around 1 p.m., the rocket developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), with a diameter of 3.8 meters, stood ready on the launch pad. Powered by three variable-thrust liquid oxygen-methane engines, the rocket ascended to approximately 12 kilometers. It then descended in a controlled manner, deploying its landing legs at 50 meters above the ground and achieving a soft, precise vertical landing on the designated recovery pad.

This test marks the largest vertical takeoff and landing flight of a reusable rocket in China to date. It also represents the first use of domestically developed liquid oxygen-methane engines with variable thrust capabilities in a return flight reaching 10 kilometers.

The success of this test validates several critical technologies, including the rocket's structural integrity, high-precision navigation and landing buffer mechanisms. These advancements pave the way for the scheduled maiden flight of a 4-meter diameter reusable carrier rocket in 2025.