Will Russia's answer to the Falcon 9 rocket ever take flight?

The global race for reusable rocket technology is intensifying, and Ars Technica explores whether Russia can develop its own version of a successful orbital booster. Last week, China joined the select group of countries that have launched an orbital mission and recovered its booster. Japan's space agency is conducting hop tests, while Honda has demonstrated vertical reuse capabilities. In the United States, SpaceX launches and lands reusable rockets multiple times per week. Blue Origin has proven it can land and re-launch large orbital boosters, though its New Glenn rocket is currently grounded. Other American companies—Stoke Space, Rocket Lab, and Relativity Space—are making credible progress toward partially or fully reusable rocket systems.

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