China wants to launch its astronauts into space using reusable rockets.
A Space.com article mentioned that the country's officials are planning to use rockets with a reusable first stage to ferry astronauts and cargo to its new Tianong Space Station, the moon, and even beyond.
China's Plans on Reusable Rocket
Aside from transporting astronauts and cargo into space, the rocket in question, the "New-generation Manned Launch Vehicle," will also be designed to carry new, larger spacecraft than China National Space Administration's rocket for crewed missions, the Shenzhou, per the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The smaller version of the rocket is said to be capable of launching around 14,000 kilograms to Earth's low orbit, allowing it to carry China's next-generation crew-carrying spacecraft that had an uncrewed test flight in 2021, per a separate Space.com article. Meanwhile, its larger counterpart was reported to be capable of launching 27,000 kilograms into lunar transfer orbit, giving the rocket the ability to launch a larger, heavier version of the next-generation crew-carrying spacecraft for lunar and deep space missions.
Although the "New-generation Manned Launch Vehicle" is still unavailable to China due to the country lacking the necessary technology to develop such a rocket, the country's officials are planning to launch the first iteration of this rocket before 2025 ends.
Currently, Chinese astronauts use the expendable Long March 2F rocket for their crewed missions. This rocket comes from the Long March line of space rockets which includes the Long March 5B rocket.
You may remember that the Long March 5B rocket, or at least its parts, was reported to be crashing back to Earth through an uncontrolled entry, per The Guardian's report.
Details on the Reusable Rocket
The "New-generation Manned Launch Vehicle" is a Chinese space rocket with a two-stage tandem configuration. According to China's State Council English website, the first stage of the rocket's two-stage tandem configuration can be reused as it can perform engine deceleration during its re-entry.
During its landing, the rocket's first stage will be decelerated and secured by a mesh-like recovery system on the ground, providing more returning components from the rocket to the ground to reduce launch vehicle load.
The mesh-like recovery system is a replacement for the usual landing legs as the system will carry hooks and will be caught by tightwires.
The rocket's first stage can also control itself using its pneumatic rudders during reentry according to the head of China's Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, Wang Xiaojun.
The "New-generation Manned Launch Vehicle" will use refined RP-1 kerosene fuel and liquid oxygen. This refined rocket fuel comes with two variants: a two-stage version for low-orbit missions to China's space station, and a three-stage version for lunar and deep space missions.
