China prepares first booster reflight and second Chang Zheng 12A landing attempt

China is preparing the first re-flight of a previously flown booster as its launch cadence grows. The Chang Zheng 12A will make a second attempt to become China's third rocket to have its first stage recovered.

China is also testing droneships for future ocean landings and increasing the number of vehicles that can launch from platforms at sea. Its two major broadband megaconstellations are preparing to roll out a domestic service, and its long-established navigation and positioning constellation has completed an upgrade.

China's new commercial resupply spacecraft are moving closer to launch. The China Manned Space Agency announced two cargo awards for the Tiangong space station in late October 2024. One went to Qingzhou, developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The other went to the Haolong reusable spaceplane from the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute, part of AVIC.

The prototype Qingzhou began its maiden flight in March.

Sourcenasaspaceflight.com