A recyclable rocket named after Douyu, an Optics Valley-based live streaming platform, was launched successfully at the Lenghu Lake Rocket Test Base in Mangya city, Qinghai province, on Aug 10.

A recyclable rocket named after Douyu, an Optics Valley-based live streaming platform, is launched successfully at the Lenghu Lake Rocket Test Base in Mangya city, Qinghai province, on Aug 10. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley]

The whole process was broadcast live on the Internet with renowned sci-fi writer Liu Cixin as the commentator.

The renowned sci-fi writer Liu Cixin is invited to be the commentator for the rocket launch at the Lenhu Lake Rocket Test Base in Mangya city, Qinghai province, on Aug 10. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley]

According to the company, the RLV-T5 recyclable rocket is 8.1 meters high and weighs about 1.5 tons. It was designed by Linkspace, the first private company in China to master the rocket hovering technology.

The rocket soared up to the height of 300 meters and flew in the air for 50 seconds before it returned to the ground. It is the third largest recyclable rocket in the world, second only to SpaceX and the Blue Origin launched in the United States. 

Wan Mei, vice president of Linkspace, said that compared to one-off rockets, recyclable rockets can help reduce the cost significantly and thus are suitable for commercial use. 

They are also capable of conducting upper air meteorological observation thanks to their excellent thrust control performance.

Douyu’s interest in live streaming videos of outer space technology and hardcore sci-fi has grown since 2016. The platform has covered a series of major science incidents, including the launch of the NASA In-Sight Mars Rover,  the first flight of the SpaceX Heavy Falcon Rocket, and the unveiling of the first black hole photo. 

At the end of 2018, the company developed and successfully launched the "Douyu 666" satellite, which was equipped with the Long March-2D carrier rocket, marking the beginning of its journey of live streaming outer space. 

The RLV-T5 recyclable rocket is 8.1 meters high and weighs about 1.5 tons. It is designed by Linkspace, the first private company in China to master the rocket hovering technology, and is the third largest recyclable rocket in the world, second only to SpaceX and the Blue Origin launched in the United States. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley]