Cosmoleap Completes China's First Ground Test of a 'Chopsticks' Rocket-Catch Tower

Chinese reusable launch developer Cosmoleap said on October 7 it completed China's first ground test of a "chopsticks" rocket recovery tower that catches a returning booster with mechanical arms. The company built its own tower controller and collected data from over 100 measurement points. Its first tower-catch rocket, Leap-1, is targeted for a maiden flight in 2027.

• Cosmoleap, founded in February 2024, focuses on tower-catch reusable launch vehicles
• Its in-house recovery tower controller has gone through several iterations and static and dynamic tests
• Leap-1 is a two-stage methalox rocket about 70 meters tall, targeting a 2027 maiden flight
• The company plans a sea-based recovery tower platform for high-frequency reuse