(Yicai) Nov. 15 -- Deep Blue Aerospace will conduct a rocket recovery test next year, according to a media report. If successful, the Chinese startup will become only the second company after Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch and catch a returning rocket using mechanical “chopsticks.”

Deep Blue will carry out a 100-kilometer recovery test and an orbital re-entry recovery test between February and April in 2025, Southern Finance Omnimedia reported today, citing Zhao Ya, executive vice president of the Nantong-based company.

Deep Blue will also make 100-km recovery missions a regular occurrence, aiming to achieve monthly launches and recoveries, Zhao said. By 2026, it will be once a week, and by 2027, the company will have achieved high safety and reliability and will start its space travel business.

Last month, Deep Blue pre-sold two tickets for its 2027 crewed spaceflight for CNY1 million (USD138,400) each through a Taobao live-stream, drawing widespread attention.

At the ongoing Zhuhai Air Show, the company is exhibiting aerospace products such as the Nebula-1 and Nebula-2 recoverable launch vehicles. The maiden flight of the Nebula-2 large reusable rocket will be in the first quarter of 2026.

Zhao noted that China’s commercial aerospace sector has been developing steadily since 2015, noting that the coming year will be a period of adjustment, and an intense industry reshuffle is likely.

Editor: Tom Litting