Deep Blue Aerospace, based in Nantong City of Jiangsu Province, completed a vertical takeoff vertical landing (VTVL) test at a facility in Tongchuan, Shaanxi Province on May 6.

The Nebula-M1 test article soared to an altitude of one kilometer before performing a powered descending and vertical landing to less than 0.5 meters away from the target spot.The VTVL test set new domestic records in the height, speed and flight time. The test is also seen as a milestone in the development of the full Nebula-1 rocket with a recoverable first stage before 2024.

The company said the test has verified core VTVL technologies and also laid a foundation for future launch tests at the 10-kilometer level.

The test article powered by kerosene-liquid oxygen engine was used for three flight missions and seven ground experiments. Deep Blue Aerospace completed two VTVL launch tests from July to October last year. New tests will be conducted using a full-scale Nebula-1 rocket.

Located in the Nantong High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Deep Blue Aerospace is a high-tech commercial aerospace enterprise focusing on the research and development of reusable launch vehicle and commercial launch services.