China Successfully Lands Reusable Rocket

Context

China has successfully landed a reusable Long March 10B rocket booster for the first time, a feat achieved by only a handful of countries with the ability to launch reusable rockets, putting China at the forefront of commercial space, satellite deployment, and lunar exploration.

Key Highlights

• China successfully lands its reusable Long March 10B rocket booster, a milestone in its space programme.
• It would make it one of the few nations with reusable launch vehicle technology, thus lowering launch costs and bolstering its space and lunar exploration goals.

What is Reusable Rocket?

• A reusable rocket is a rocket that is designed to return safely to its launch site after its flight, to be used again.
• Reusable launch systems are different from expendable rockets in that:
  • Reduce mission costs.
  • Increase launch frequency.
  • Improve commercial viability.
  • Encourage sustainable space exploration.

How the Technology Works?

• Launch Phase
  • The rocket has a multiple-stage launch.
  • Once it has performed its mission, the first-stage booster detaches from the upper stage.
• Re-entry and Landing
  • The returning booster:
    • Reorients itself using onboard control systems.
    • Has aerodynamic fins for stability.
    • Engages its engines to land.
    • Carries out a controlled descent to recover.

China’s Innovation

• Unlike the regular reusable rockets that use landing legs:
  • China uses a capture system based on the web and attached to a floating sea platform.
  • The suspended net is hooked into by landing hooks attached to the booster.
  • Automated locking mechanisms hold the booster securely as soon as it is captured.
• This design does away with the weight of heavy landing legs, thereby saving weight and allowing greater payload.

Why is Reusable Rocket Technology Important?

• Lower Launch Costs
  • The cost of a rocket mission is greatly reduced by the reuse of costly components.
  • It provides governments and private companies with an affordable space access capability.
• Higher Launch Frequency
  • Multiple launches with the same booster can be performed with a faster turnaround.
  • Key to the deployment of large satellite constellations.
• Improved Commercial Competitiveness
  • Supports commercial satellite launches.
  • Increases access to international space economy.
  • Promotes innovation for launching services.

Strategic Significance

• Intensifying the Global Space Race
  • The successful demonstration marks China’s joining countries with advanced reusable launch technology.
  • It bolsters China’s role in commercial launch services and deep space exploration.
• Lunar Exploration
  • The Long March 10 series will likely be used for China’s manned moon mission.
  • This reusable technology is cost-saving and efficient for long-duration space exploration.
• Satellite Deployment
  • The rocket has the capability to launch satellites into low Earth Orbit (LEO) efficiently.
  • The large-scale satellite constellations are needed for:
    • Communication.
    • Navigation.
    • Earth observation.
    • Internet connectivity.
• National Security
  • Reusable launch systems have important strategic applications:
    • Military communication satellites.
    • Space-based surveillance.
    • Navigation systems.
    • Dual-use aerospace technologies.
• Global Implications
  • An increase in competition for commercial launch services.
  • Faster innovations in reusable launch technologies.
  • Growth of the global space economy.
  • Growing competition between states.

Relevance for India

• ISRO is working diligently to bolster India’s capabilities in reusable launch vehicles in a step-by-step manner.
• Potential benefits include:
  • Reduce Satellite launch costs.
  • An improved commercial launch marketplace.
  • Support for India’s Gaganyaan and future lunar missions.
  • Improved strategic independence in space technologies.

Challenges

• Expensive development and testing efforts.
• Recovery and refurbishment processes that are complex.
• Concerns for safety and reliability.
• Promoting further militarisation and competition in outer space.

Way Forward

• Pursue reusable launch vehicle technologies.
• Improve public and private sector collaboration in space.
• Encourage indigenous propulsion innovations and recovery system innovations.
• Broaden cooperation on an international level and protect national security.
• Promote peaceful and sustainable use of outer space in accordance with international law.

Conclusion

• The ability to return rockets to Earth is a big step forward in reusability and it opens up huge commercial, scientific and strategic opportunities for China.
• The reusable launch system revolutionizes space exploration by making it more economical and frequent.
• With growing competition in space, further investment in new space launch technologies will play a vital role in helping countries to compete in the new space economy.

Source: The Indian Express

Mains PYQ

Q. What is the main task of India’s third mood mission which could not be achieved in its earlier mission? List the countries that have achieved this task. Introduce the subsystems in the spacecraft launched and explain the role of the ‘Virtual Launch Control Centre’ at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre which contributed to the successful launch from Sriharikota. (2023)

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