
China pushes Mengzhou capsule tests as booster recovery plans race forward
China continues testing its Mengzhou crew capsule after a successful in-flight abort with plans to recover orbital-class boosters on land and at sea, including a sea-based catcher platform Linghangzhe. The effort accompanies growing commercial programs (iSpace, Landspace) targeting propulsive landings for their first-stage boosters, and comes ahead of an uncrewed orbital demonstration of Mengzhou and possibly the first CZ-10A/B missions later this year.