Significant progress has been achieved in China's commercial space sector. On February 7, a reusable experimental spacecraft was successfully launched aboard a Long March 2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Analysts suggest that with the successful technological validation of China's reusable spacecraft expected by 2026, the commercial space industry is poised to enter a phase characterized by frequent and routine launches.

In related developments, major news has also emerged from U.S. commercial space giant SpaceX. According to recent reports, SpaceX may have abandoned its goal of a mission to Mars within the year, choosing instead to prioritize its lunar landing program.

The successful launch of the reusable experimental spacecraft marks a key milestone. The spacecraft is scheduled to undergo planned tests for technological validation, which will provide essential support for the peaceful utilization of space.

The Long March 2F rocket, developed under the primary responsibility of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, part of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, is a large two-stage rocket with strap-on boosters.

Looking back, on September 6 of last year, a previous reusable experimental spacecraft successfully returned to its designated landing site after spending 268 days in orbit. That spacecraft was also launched by a Long March 2F rocket on December 14, 2023.

Furthermore, China successfully launched similar reusable experimental spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on September 4, 2020, and August 5, 2022. These vehicles returned to their planned landing sites after orbital flights lasting 2 days and 276 days, respectively.

Extended durations in orbit impose higher demands on the technical performance of spacecraft, including energy supply, thermal protection, orbital maintenance, and equipment reliability. The success of this recent mission demonstrates significant progress China has made in the long-term orbital operation and reliability of reusable spacecraft.

At its annual work conference for 2026, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation outlined plans to focus on achieving breakthroughs in reusable rocket technology this year, aiming to accelerate efforts towards building the nation into a major space power.

Currently, China is developing a new generation of reusable spacecraft with a blunt-body design, as well as the "Haolong" cargo spaceplane, which features a blended wing-body configuration. The "Haolong" cargo spaceplane is a reusable commercial vehicle, approximately 10 meters long and 8 meters wide. It utilizes an aerodynamic design with large wings and a high lift-to-drag ratio, capable of being reused for both uplink and downlink cargo transport to and from the space station.

Analysts point out that fully reusable spacecraft technology has become a central focus and cutting-edge area in contemporary space research. As highly efficient systems for space access, fully reusable spacecraft can significantly reduce the cost of Earth-space transportation, shorten development cycles, and increase the efficiency and frequency of space exploration. Such spacecraft can not only make multiple trips to space but also perform missions in various orbits, offering more efficient and convenient solutions for space resource development, space tourism, satellite deployment and maintenance, and human spaceflight.

In a strategic shift, SpaceX is reported to have postponed its Mars mission. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on February 7, SpaceX has delayed its originally planned mission to Mars this year, choosing to focus instead on a long-promised lunar landing mission for NASA.

The report indicated that SpaceX has informed its investors of the decision to prioritize the lunar program, pushing the Mars mission to a later date. Sources also revealed that SpaceX is targeting March 2027 for an attempted uncrewed lunar landing.

SpaceX had previously stated plans to launch five Starship vehicles to Mars by the end of 2026, aiming to take advantage of a period when the distance between Earth and Mars is shorter to make the journey easier.

As of the latest updates, SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk have not officially commented on these reports.

This strategic adjustment comes as SpaceX is intensifying efforts to advance its plan to deploy AI data centers in space, following the company's announcement of its acquisition of Musk's startup xAI. The deal, announced on a Monday, values the combined entity at $1.25 trillion. SpaceX is also planning to move forward with an initial public offering, potentially as early as this summer.

In an internal memo announcing the merger, Musk, who also serves as CEO of SpaceX, outlined the company's plans to help establish a permanent presence on the Moon, describing a vision of using the Moon as a base for deeper space exploration.

He wrote, "Once we make space-based data centers a reality, the capabilities unlocked will fund and support self-expanding bases on the Moon, which will in turn foster a full civilization on Mars, ultimately propelling humanity's expansion throughout the universe."

Musk also tempered expectations regarding a Mars mission this year during a podcast interview aired in January. He stated, "We could do it, but the probability is low," and described the idea as "a bit of a distraction."

Reports suggest that SpaceX has also faced pressure from the U.S. government to prioritize the lunar mission.

In October of last year, then-Deputy Administrator of NASA, Shawn Duffy, expressed that SpaceX was behind schedule and hoped more companies would compete to deliver vehicles capable of transporting astronauts to the Moon. Insiders mentioned that since then, SpaceX has proposed a so-called "streamlined path" to NASA, aimed at reinstating crewed lunar landings.

Regardless of the destination—Mars or the Moon—SpaceX must first solve the challenge of refueling vehicles in space. A major obstacle is handling and storing large quantities of ultra-cryogenic propellants that tend to vaporize in the vacuum of space. According to current timelines, overcoming this challenge represents the most critical task SpaceX needs to accomplish within the year.