Interview with Zhang Guangjun, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology: Advancing Reusable Rocket Recovery Will Be the Key to Opening a New Era of Commercial Spaceflight

Everyday Economic News Reporter | Zhou Yifei Zhang Huishui
Edited by | Liao Dan

“Science and Technology” has become a key word in China’s economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

This year’s government work report proposed accelerating high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement. Seizing the historical opportunity of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, comprehensively enhancing independent innovation capabilities to provide technological support for high-quality development.

The “14th Five-Year” plan recommendations mention “science and technology” 46 times, explicitly proposing to “accelerate high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement,” and include “significantly improving the level of scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement” among the main goals for the economic and social development during the “14th Five-Year” period, placing innovation at the core of national strategy.

Meanwhile, the Daily Economic News reporter noticed that after “Commercial Spaceflight” and “Beidou” were successively included in the government work report, this year “Satellite Internet” has also become a key technological term in the report.

Why does the government work report emphasize these cutting-edge technologies this year? What is the current progress? When will China achieve reusable commercial rockets? With the development of commercial spaceflight, how far are ordinary people from space travel?

Focusing on these questions, the Daily Economic News reporter (hereinafter referred to as NBD) conducted an exclusive interview with Zhang Guangjun, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, during the two sessions.

Enhancing Reusable Rockets Can Significantly Improve Commercial Spaceflight Feasibility

NBD: The term “Beidou” has been repeatedly mentioned in the government work report, especially in recent years. This year’s report states that by 2025, the scale of Beidou applications will be fully expanded, and for the first time, it proposes to “create a new form of intelligent economy” and explicitly “accelerate the development of satellite internet.” What signals do you think this sends?

Zhang Guangjun: Currently, China’s Beidou satellite system has achieved phased success. The next focus should be on how to industrialize it. Not only domestically, but abroad, Beidou is also being used and promoted as a business model. Once it reaches a certain scale and application foundation, it must generate benefits.

People already feel the huge convenience brought by the Beidou system in daily life, such as in car navigation and other applications. The Beidou satellite system has formed a very large-scale user base. Especially in the context of complex and changing international environments, China’s autonomous and controllable global navigation system is of great significance. Only then can we avoid being “locked out.”

Of course, we see that the commercial application of Beidou has already shown initial results and created many new markets. Not only domestically, but internationally, Beidou is competing with the US GPS. Therefore, “Beidou” and “Satellite Internet” have become hot words at the two sessions, aligning with our technological strategic positioning and signaling strong national support and promotion.

NBD: Reusable rockets are regarded by the industry as a key to opening a new era in commercial spaceflight. In your opinion, what is the core strategic significance of this technology? When can rockets be reused repeatedly?

Zhang Guangjun: The most important aspect of reusability is cost reduction. Just like people wear clothes, they don’t throw them away after one use; reuse can greatly lower costs. Both domestically and internationally, relevant industries are advancing reusable rocket technology. Our country is also working on it, and progress is rapid. For example, recently the Zhuque-3 had its first flight, which was China’s first verification of a first-stage recovery technology for orbital launch vehicles. In the future, there will definitely be more such tests, and promoting rocket reusability will be key to opening a new era in commercial spaceflight.

Overall, reusable rockets are critically important for advancing commercial space development. First, they can significantly reduce the cost of space launches, making commercial viability more feasible.

Second, traditional expendable rockets have long manufacturing and launch preparation cycles, which cannot meet the increasing demand for space capacity. Reusable rockets, through rapid inspection, maintenance, and re-launch, can greatly increase launch frequency and enable “flight-like” operations.

Finally, they drive industrial chain upgrades and create a healthy industrial ecosystem. Major national space projects have spurred broad participation from commercial companies, forming a positive ecosystem led by state teams and collaborative development with private firms. This “military-civil fusion” development accelerates technological iteration and roots space capabilities more deeply into the national industrial system.

Technological Breakthroughs + Institutional Reforms Drive Commercial Space Development

NBD: The industry generally believes that China’s commercial space strength is already among the top, but there is still a gap compared to the “leader.” How do you view this gap and our unique advantages?

Zhang Guangjun: Overall, China’s commercial space is in a rapid development stage, with notable achievements. “Commercial space” has also become a hot word at the two sessions. But we must also recognize that China’s foundation in commercial space is relatively weak, with a low starting point compared to developed countries like the US. The next step is to develop our unique advantages, which I believe requires efforts in two areas.

First, at the technological level, we need to further increase investment in manpower and funds, and focus on technological accumulation. In high-tech fields, researchers must be patient, persistent, and increase R&D efforts. Only after some time of accumulation can we catch up.

Second, institutional and mechanism reforms are also necessary. Dual drives—both technological innovation and reform—are needed to achieve breakthroughs. In science and technology, a unified national strategy is essential; innovation alone without institutional reform is insufficient.

For example, a few years ago, China established the Central Science and Technology Commission, which is strategically significant. It brought multiple ministries into one body, with its office under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Many major science and technology projects and tasks have been more effectively promoted. In recent years, China’s technological breakthroughs have continued, and I believe that besides technological innovation, institutional reform has played a vital role.

NBD: As space equipment increases, will “space traffic congestion” occur? Can commercial spaceflight enable us to realize space travel in the future?

Zhang Guangjun: As the global aerospace sector develops, “space traffic” congestion is indeed a concern. For example, recently, our spacecraft’s window was hit, which verified this issue.

How to address it? I think one is to strengthen space monitoring and early warning, optimize orbit design and planning; the other is to implement active collision avoidance maneuvers and enhance satellite self-protection capabilities.

Regarding space travel, I believe it will definitely be achievable. However, currently, it remains limited to a very small segment of the population. Making space travel affordable for ordinary people and achieving large-scale application is still a long-term process.

At this stage, China is still in the phase of developing and utilizing space resources, such as exploring Mars and the Moon, mainly focusing on discovering and utilizing space resources. Transitioning to commercial space tourism involves related plans, but it will take time.

However, I want to emphasize that from a national defense perspective, transferring civilian and commercial technologies to enhance military capabilities, and developing a military-civilian integrated industrial system, are worth considering. Technologies can be transferred between civilian and military uses, and vice versa, which will further enhance national security and defense. Especially in aerospace resource exploration, our commercial applications are rapidly developing. If military and civilian technologies can be shared and integrated, it will further strengthen national security and defense capabilities.