CHINA’S reusable experimental spacecraft successfully returned to its scheduled landing site yesterday after two days of in-orbit operation.

It was launched on board a Long March-2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Friday.

The successful task marks an important breakthrough in China’s research on reusable spacecraft technology, which will provide a more convenient and economical way for the peaceful use of space.

According to experts, reusable spacecraft will have a wide range of applications such as carrying out space tours for civilians, transporting astronauts, resupplying space stations and placing satellites into orbit at lower cost.

China’s space contractors have been studying and demonstrating reusable technologies for their space program for several years.

In June 2017, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. said its designers “are verifying two designs for reusable rockets” — one will use the vertical landing system to retrieve the main body of a carrier rocket and the other will use parachutes.

Friday’s mission was the 344th launch of the Long March rocket fleet and the 14th of the Long March 2F, which is mainly tasked with serving China’s manned space program.

Before this mission, all of Long March 2F’s previous flights involved manned space missions. It sent six manned and five pilot-less spaceships as well as two space labs into low-Earth orbit. (Xinhua)