Yuanxingzhe-1 Hopper

XYZ-1 Hopper 远行者一号 Hopper

Mission Profile

The Yuanxingzhe-1 Hopper (XYZ-1 Hopper, 远行者一号 Hopper) is a Chinese vertical takeoff and landing reusable suborbital test vehicle developed by CAS Space, designed to demonstrate propulsive landing and vehicle turnaround technologies for future orbital launch vehicle development. Making its maiden flight in May 2025, it is a technology demonstrator analogous to SpaceX's Grasshopper program, testing engines, landing legs, thrust vector control, and guidance algorithms at progressively higher altitudes. The Hopper program represents CAS Space's roadmap toward developing a fully reusable orbital launch vehicle drawing on heritage from CAS's own engine and propulsion development programs.