Chinas Private Reusable Rocket Zhishenxing-1 Scheduled for August Maiden Flight
Summary: Chinese private space company Deep Blue Aerospaces reusable liquid-fueled rocket Zhishenxing-1 is scheduled for its maiden flight in August 2026, aiming to reduce launch costs to one-quarter.
According to a report from ZAKER News, the reusable liquid-fueled launch vehicle Zhishenxing-1, developed by Chinese private aerospace company Deep Blue Aerospace, is scheduled to perform its maiden flight in August 2026. The core objective of the rocket is to achieve vertical landing and reuse of its first stage, thereby significantly reducing launch costs.
Deep Blue Aerospace has stated that by recovering and reusing the first stage, the cost per launch is expected to be reduced to approximately one-quarter of that of traditional expendable rockets. This technological breakthrough is considered highly significant for enhancing the market competitiveness of China's commercial space sector.
The Zhishenxing-1 rocket uses liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellants, and its design fully incorporates the requirements for reusability. Specific details regarding the orbital parameters and payload for this maiden flight are reportedly to be announced closer to the launch window.