China has unveiled the two-stage reusable configuration of the Long March 9 heavy-lift rocket at the ongoing 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, which opened in south China's coastal city of Zhuhai on Tuesday.
Designed with an idea of modular, universalization and serialization, the heavy launch vehicle has three planned configurations - a three-stage version, a two-stage version and a two-stage completely reusable version.
The reusable configuration is highlighted by the rocket designer - the First Research Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation – at this year's Zhuhai Airshow.
"The heavy-lift rocket has a capacity of 100 tons in low-Earth orbit and 50 tons in lunar transfer orbit, which can cover the launch needs of various space missions from low orbit to deep space exploration," said Chen Ziyu, a designer at the institute.
The designer said that they will achieve the heavy carrying capacity and full reuse of the rocket in two steps. The first step will focus on building the basic model of the heavy rocket to greatly improve the country's ability to access the space, and the second step will be building a two-stage fully reusable configuration to largely reduce costs and increase efficiency of launching and recovering rockets, enabling the country to have the capacity of large-scale regular space transportation.
"Our ultimate goal is to have a two-stage fully reusable configuration. And different configurations can be adapted to the launch needs of missions to different orbits," Chen said.
The highly-anticipated biennial aerospace trade event, also known as Airshow China, will run through Sunday. It has attracted 1,022 companies from 47 countries and regions to showcase their star aviation and aerospace products, including a record number of products being debuted to the public at the event.
China unveils two-stage reusable configuration of Long March 9 heavy-lift rocket
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
