The War Behind Reusable Rockets: Whoever Can Hold the Orbit Will Hold the Future

On December 21, 2015, when SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket's first stage gently landed at the landing site at Cape Canaveral, Florida, the people at the rocket mission control center erupted in thunderous cheers. This was not just a technical demonstration; it marked the end of one era and the beginning of another.

Ten years later, the competition for reusable and recyclable rockets has begun. On December 3, 2025, the Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) Yao-1 rocket, developed independently by the Chinese commercial aerospace company LandSpace, successfully achieved its maiden flight into orbit.

This "rocket race" is certainly not just about saving money; it is a century-long game of great significance between nations concerning "orbital sovereignty," "space infrastructure," and other aspects, a battle for future order in space.

01 The competition for reusable rockets is essentially a struggle for "launch frequency power"

The economic value brought by reusable technology has been fully validated by SpaceX: by recovering and reusing boosters, the cost of a single launch can be reduced by more than 70%. According to relevant official data, the launch cost of Falcon 9 is controlled at about $3,000/kg, while Zhuque-3 aims for 20,000 RMB/kg (approximately $2,800/kg), placing both in the same cost range.

Even more ambitious is SpaceX's next-generation Starship, which aims for a groundbreaking target of $10/kg with its fully reusable design, reducing costs by 99% compared to the Space Shuttle era, which will completely rewrite the cost structure of the space economy.

However, more strategically significant than saving money is the high-frequency launch capability. After all, traditional rockets often take months or even years to be ready for another launch, while the Falcon 9 booster can be reused in just 21 days (on average, not the fastest record). The multiple-fold advantage in launch frequency not only allows for faster satellite constellation deployment and more agile defense arrangements but also transforms space launches from "occasional showcases" into "everyday occurrences."

If successful, space travel will become as routine as flying, no longer the exclusive toys of billionaires and national teams, but rather a vast "economic ecosystem" that ordinary people can participate in and benefit from. It is this disruptive advantage of low cost and high frequency that makes most satellite companies now more willing to choose reusable rockets for their launches. According to the well-known intellectual property consulting firm PatentPC, the U.S. Space Force approved the use of reusable boosters for military missions in 2021, saving over 30% in expenses just from this measure.

02 The "Three Major Competition Arenas" Behind the Struggle

When the dual revolution of cost and frequency completely changes the rules of the space economy, the cost of entering space drops to one-tenth or even lower than before, many previously unfeasible business models suddenly become viable—such as global satellite internet, space manufacturing, space tourism, and even lunar base construction, all transitioning from science fiction to serious business projects.

If it were only for commercial profit, governments would not be so anxious. The global competition triggered by reusable rockets is essentially three "arenas concerning future order."

First Arena: The "Land Grab" for Low Earth Orbit

Space may seem infinite, but the usable near-Earth orbital space for humans is extremely limited. According to data from CCID Consulting, Earth's near-Earth orbit is expected to accommodate only about 60,000 satellites, while by 2029, approximately 57,000 low Earth orbit satellites are expected to be deployed, leaving very little orbital space available.

This is not a technical issue, but a physical constraint. Satellites need to maintain a safe distance from each other to avoid collisions, and specific orbital altitudes and inclinations correspond to different service capabilities. The most optimal orbital positions are as scarce as prime real estate on Earth.

International rules follow the "first come, first served" principle—whoever occupies it first has the right to use it.

Even scarcer are spectrum resources. Satellite communication relies on radio frequency bands, such as the mainstream C band and Ku band, with the Ku band (approximately 12-18 GHz) and Ka band (approximately 26.5-40 GHz) becoming core development directions, but facing varying degrees of pressure. With the large-scale deployment of Starlink and OneWeb constellations, signs of saturation are appearing in the Ku band, while the Ka band, with its larger available bandwidth, is becoming the focus for high-throughput services and the next key area of competition among countries.

Reusable rockets play a decisive role in this "land grab." High launch frequencies mean that large satellite constellations can be deployed quickly, seizing optimal orbits and frequency bands. When a country or company can occupy near-Earth orbit at an overwhelming speed, later entrants, even with technology, may face the dilemma of having "nowhere to place" their satellites.

Second Arena: The Life-and-Death Struggle for Communication Sovereignty

The competition for reusable rocket capabilities is also a competition for communication sovereignty.

SpaceX's Starlink program has deployed thousands of satellites and is establishing a global satellite internet. This is not just a simple commercial service, but a new type of strategic capability.

For major powers, this represents an unacceptable strategic vulnerability. When a foreign private company can provide (or cut off) internet access to your territory, it essentially amounts to a relinquishment of sovereignty.

Third Arena: The First-Mover Advantage in Space Infrastructure

A deeper struggle is for control over the infrastructure of the future space economy.

When launch costs drop to hundreds of dollars per kilogram, space will transition from an "exploration domain" to a "development domain." From in-orbit manufacturing, space data centers to lunar resource extraction, all these future industries require one prerequisite: affordable space transportation. Whoever masters this capability holds the ticket to the space economy SpaceX is not only building Starlink but also developing Starship—a fully reusable super heavy rocket aimed at reducing launch costs by an order of magnitude. If successful, it will be able to transport goods and personnel between Earth and the Moon, Mars at an unprecedented scale. This is not science fiction; SpaceX has already completed multiple test flights of Starship.

China is also accelerating its layout. By the end of 2025 to 2026, China's commercial space industry may welcome a series of maiden flights for reusable rockets, including Zhuque-3, Lijian-2, Tianlong-3, Yingli-2, Shuanghe-3, and Zhishenxing-1.

This is a race against time. Industry insiders predict that 2025 will not only be a key year for China's commercial space industry to enter the era of reusability but also a turning point for the industry to enter a phase of survival of the fittest. Companies that achieve breakthroughs in reusable technology first are expected to stand out in this competition for the stars and the sea.

03 The Cost of Stalling: Warnings from Europe and Japan

Of course, not all players are keeping pace with this race. Countries like Europe and Japan are still on the path of catching up.

The European Space Agency's Ariane 5 rocket was once the mainstay of the commercial launch market, but it has gradually lost market share in the face of SpaceX's price competition. The Ariane 6 is not set to complete its maiden flight until July 2024, and it remains a traditional expendable rocket. The European Space Agency only signed a contract with ArianeGroup in December 2020 to build the Themis reusable rocket stage demonstrator, aiming to be competitive by the 2030s.

This means that while China and the U.S. are achieving large-scale applications of reusable rockets by 2025-2026, Europe may not master mature technology until the 2030s. A ten-year technological gap could be fatal in the space competition—optimal orbital positions will be occupied, spectrum resources will be allocated, and Europe will have to accept the game rules set by others.

Japan plans to use reusable rockets as the next-generation transportation means for the H3 rocket, with plans to put it into practical use after 2030, aiming to significantly reduce launch costs. However, this timeline also means that Japan will rely on foreign launch services for the next five to ten years.

For once-powerful space nations, this is not only a technological lag but also a strategic disadvantage. When you cannot independently access space, you cannot independently build satellite constellations, ensure communication sovereignty, or participate in the future division of space economy.

04 The Space Race of Reusable Rockets Benefits the Public

The space race is no longer just a "thing in the sky" for billionaires and research institutions; the changes brought by reusable rockets directly affect everyone on Earth 1. Cheaper and Faster Broadband

Imagine remote mountains, private yachts, and even ocean freighters enjoying high-speed internet, all thanks to giant satellite constellations supported by reusable rockets (like Starlink, etc.). The decrease in launch costs means more satellites in orbit, broader coverage of high-speed networks, stronger network redundancy, and an infinitely reduced chance of disconnection.

2. Cleaner and More Environmentally Friendly Space

Reusing rockets to recover discarded boosters can reduce waste emissions by up to 80%, not only lowering the risk of space debris but also reducing ocean pollution. This makes reusability a more sustainable option for space exploration, aligning with the growing global focus on corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability.

3. Technology Spillover Benefits Earth Industries

In the process of developing reusable rockets, high-performance materials, 3D printing technology, advanced alloys, and autonomous systems have all been realized, directly benefiting the aviation, automotive, manufacturing, and even medical industries. It can be said that every launch of a rocket into space drives technological progress on Earth.

05 The Final Battle: The Struggle for "Infrastructure Hegemony" in Space

As reusable rockets significantly lower launch costs, the industry's competitive focus has shifted from merely "carrying capacity" to how to utilize low-cost launches to build a "space service" model with long-term profitability.

Whether providing high-speed broadband to private aviation and ocean vessels or constructing commercial space stations, SpaceX aims to make "rockets + Starlink" the foundational network of the space age, becoming the "infrastructure contractor" of the future orbital economy. The maiden flight attempt of Zhuque-3 also signifies that China's commercial space sector is beginning to possess the technological foundation to challenge this monopoly.

Reusable rockets are not just a technological innovation; they are catalysts for economic growth, international cooperation, and sustainable development, and they are the key to unlocking humanity's "orbital ambitions." In this global struggle for "orbital sovereignty," those who can continuously innovate and master the power of "rapid reuse" will secure the future and dominate a new era of space commercialization and exploration.

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