Beijing, May 29 -- Chinese space startup Space Epoch (officially known as Beijing Jianyuan Technology Co., Ltd.) successfully completed its first sea-based vertical landing of a reusable verification rocket, in one of the country's most impressive private sector space launches.
The rocket-an experimental piece called Yuanxingzhe-1 (YXZ-1) or Hiker-1 in English-lifted off from a floating steel launch platform at 4:40 p.m. local time.
Built from thin-walled stainless steel and standing 26.8 metres tall, the rocket soared to an altitude of 2.5 kilometres, shut down its engines, then successfully reignited them during descent and executed a controlled splashdown in the Yellow Sea, reports Space News.
Captured on video, the flight was comple...