28 May 2025 the year of Chinese Aerospace Startup Sepoch (Beijing Jianyuan Technology Co., Ltd., Space Epoch) carried out a successful test of the suborbital prototype of the reusable missile Yuanxingzhe-1 (YXZ-1), also known as Hiker-1. The rocket made a vertical take-off and a controlled landing on the water near the coast of the city of Haiyan, Shandong province.
Flight chronology
The launch was made 20:40 UTC. After taking off from the raised steel platform, the rocket reached an apogee at an altitude of approx 2,5 km. At this altitude, the engines were shut down. During the free fall phase, the engines were re-ignited, Then the apparatus performed a programmed vertical landing using jet thrust and a soft drive in the Yellow Sea waters.
Basic technical characteristics
- The name of the rocket: Yuanxingzhe-1 (YXZ-1) / Hiker-1
- Type of test: Vertical take -off and landing (VTVL), Suborbital mode
- Flight height: ~ 2.5 km
- Flight duration: 125 seconds
- The diameter of the body: 4,2 meters
- Total height: 26,8 meters
- Starting table: ~ 57 tons
- Construction: Thin -walled stainless steel
- Type of engines: Longyun
- Fuel: Methane + lox (CH₄/LOX)
- Engines manufacturer: Jiuzhou Yunjian (JZYJ), Private company
Flight phases
According to SEPOCH official message, the flight consisted of eight well-defined phases:
- Engine ignition
- Vertical takeoff at full thrust
- Thrust adjustment
- Engine shutdown
- Free fall
- Re-ignition of engines
- Braking and freezing
- Programmable soft landing on the water
Context and future plans
The YXZ-1 is a demonstration platform for the future Hiker-1 missile, Which company positions as a reusable carrier with the possibility of delivery to 10 000 kg of payload on low Earth orbit (LEO). The first orbital launch Hiker-1 is scheduled for the second half 2025 year.
IN 2024 The year Sepoch entered into partnership with SHIFANGNIAN Satellite Operator to create a constellation in Middle Earth orbit (MEO). Also started a pilot project with Taobao platform (Alibaba loads) Concerning the development of the logistics system of express delivery of goods using multiple missiles.
Other developments in the sector
This test complements a number of other reusable initiatives, that is actively developing in China.
Source: https://spacenews.com/chinese-launch-startup-conducts-vertical-takeoff-and-splashdown-test/