China: Consumer cameras deployed on Zhuque-3 reusable rocket to monitor performance.

Shotlist Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone, northwest China - Aug 18, 2026 1. Various of scientists installing consumer-grade action cameras onto Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket Minqin County, Wuwei City, Gansu Province, northwest China - Aug 19, 2026 2. Various of Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket returning to ground Northwest China - Recent 3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Yihui, test team member of Zhuque-3 (starting with shot 2/ending with shot 4): "After the Zhuque-3 Y1 rocket returned from its mission last December, we discovered that the existing industrial cameras were limited in their ability to capture high-definition images. However, we were eager to use this design to record in high definition the operation of key components of the rocket, especially the first-stage grid fins and landing legs, throughout the flight." Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone, northwest China/In Space - Aug 19, 2026 4. Footage of Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket blasting off, flying in sky China - Recent 5. Various of cameras being prepared Northwest China - Recent 6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Huang Yixiao, staff member, camera supplier (starting with shot 5/ending with shot 7): "We hope that our action cameras can record a complete and clear picture of the rocket from launch to final recovery in higher definition, so that after the mission researchers can analyze and optimize subsequent launch operations." Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone, northwest China - Aug 19, 2026 7. Footage of Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket blasting off FILE: China - 2026 8. Various of cameras being tested Storyline A total of 12 consumer-grade action cameras were installed on a rocket for the first time in the Zhuque-3 Y2 mission, documenting the real working conditions of key components in the whole process. Chinese space engineers at the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China successfully launched and recovered the Zhuque-3 on Wednesday. The Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket blasted off at 07:35 (Beijing Time) from Dongfeng, successfully positioning the Honghu-03 satellite into its preset orbit. The mission also included the first ever land-based recovery of the rocket's first stage, with scientists steering the rocket smoothly to its designated landing position at the recovery site. The entire day-long mission was captured by 12 commercially-available cameras, rather than the industrial-grade cameras that had been used on previous missions. "After the Zhuque-3 Y1 rocket returned from its mission last December, we discovered that the existing industrial cameras were limited in their ability to capture high-definition images. However, we were eager to use this design to record in high definition the operation of key components of the rocket, especially the first-stage grid fins and landing legs, throughout the flight," said Wang Yihui, a member of the Zhuque-3 operations team. The commercial cameras on the rocket were programmed to turn on at regular intervals to shoot and store 4K high-definition original images for review after the recovery of the rocket. "We hope that our action cameras can record a complete and clear picture of the rocket from launch to final recovery in higher definition, so that after the mission researchers can analyze and optimize subsequent launch operations," said Huang Yixiao, who works for the camera supplier. Zhuque-3, developed by Chinese commercial aerospace company LandSpace, is approved by the China National Space Administration as a new-generation liquid oxygen-methane-powered rocket capable of low-cost, high-capacity and high-frequency launches. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]