Tech to help tame descent of rockets

Watching a giant rocket blast off and roar heavenward is an unforgettable experience for most people. But for those located far from the launchpad and under the path of trajectory, rockets are a source of concern as debris might fall to the ground.

Chinese engineers have begun developing a technology that will help minimize hazards for those below a carrier rocket's trajectory and also enable rockets to be reused, according to project leaders at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the country's major carrier rocket maker.

During China's latest rocket launch on Friday from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, researchers from the academy conducted the country's first successful controlled-descent test of a major part of the rocket, He Wei, a senior rocket scientist, said on Sunday.