The recent high-altitude vertical recovery flight test of China's Nebula-1 rocket, operated by Deep Blue Aerospace, has been deemed a significant achievement, having successfully completed more than 90% of its verification tasks. This was a noteworthy milestone for the company, as it marked the first instance of an orbital rocket undergoing a high-altitude recovery flight test, unlike the previous experimental rockets, as stated by the Executive President Zhao Ya in an exclusive interview.

During the test, a total of 11 key technical points were verified, which ranged across various phases of the flight, including the rocket's acceleration during takeoff to the final landing deceleration. While 10 out of the 11 verification tasks ran smoothly, issues arose in the critical last node of the landing phase. Zhao explained that the Nebula-1 operated for 179 seconds with complications occurring only in the last 3.8 seconds, exceeding the team's expectations in terms of overall performance.

The incident during the final landing phase was attributed to the thrust control mechanism's failure to adapt to the decreasing thrust as propellant was consumed at a rate of approximately 60 kilograms per second. As the rocket neared the ground, the unexpectedly high thrust complicated control, causing it to lose speed before landing. In light of this safety risk, a shutdown command was issued. Following this experiment, Zhao noted that assessments pointed to potential engine aging as a contributing factor to the final stage's malfunction, considering it had been in use for over 1,000 seconds.

Plans for another high-altitude vertical recovery test are already being prepared for November, utilizing lessons learned from this initial flight. The Nebula-1 stands out as Deep Blue Aerospace's first commercial liquid rocket designed for orbital reach and reusability, playing a crucial role in testing new technology for vertical recovery and enhancing rocket efficiency. With significant reliance on 3D printing technology and specialized materials in its construction, the Nebula-1's first stage measures about 21 meters in height and is designed for future advancements in reusable rocket technology.