China is set to deploy its first offshore liquid rocket test and recovery platform, marking a milestone in the country’s commercial space ambitions.
The platform is being constructed at Dongfang Aerospace Port in Haiyang, Yantai, Shandong Province, home to China’s only commercial offshore spaceport. Over 150 workers are engaged in round-the-clock efforts to complete the facility, which is expected to be ready for initial testing by Feb. 5.
Officials said that shortly after the Lunar New Year, a domestic commercial liquid rocket will undergo its first offshore launch and recovery test at the platform — the first of its kind in China.
The project comes as China’s 15th Five-Year Plan emphasizes “accelerating the development of a strong aerospace nation,” highlighting the country’s growing focus on commercial space capabilities.
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