China's reusable rocket test falls short despite orbital success

China's latest reusable rocket test faced a setback after the Long March 12A failed to land its first stage successfully. The mission, launched on December 22, 2025, marked the country's 88th orbital attempt of the year and its second effort to recover a rocket booster in just three weeks. Despite the landing failure, the rocket still reached orbit as planned. The Long March 12A lifted off with a design focused on reusability. Standing 70.4 metres tall and weighing 437 metric tons, the rocket is powered by methane-liquid oxygen engines. Its first stage was programmed to perform a controlled descent and land at a pad in Minqin county, Gansu province, roughly 250 kilometres from the launch site.

Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology under CASC, the rocket aimed to follow China's earlier recovery success. On December 3, 2025, Landspace's Zhuque-3 rocket had already attempted the country's first orbital first-stage recovery. Before that, only a low-altitude flight test of the Long March 10 in 2024 had achieved a controlled descent and sea recovery.

During this latest attempt, the first stage missed its target by about two kilometres. The failure contrasts with China's sole confirmed success in reusable rocket technology—a controlled landing of the Long March 10 after a suborbital test. Analysts like Martin Sippel of DLR have suggested that Landspace, despite its own challenges, remains on track for future recovery achievements. The Long March 12A's orbital success keeps China's launch schedule on course, even as its reusability goals face delays. With only one confirmed first-stage recovery so far, the country continues refining its technology. Further tests are expected as both state-backed and commercial firms push for reliable booster landings.