now routinely recovers and reuses their first stages, as well as reusing fairings. In 2019 Rocket Lab announced plans to recover and reuse the first stage of their Electron launch vehicle, intending to use parachutes and mid-air retrieval. On 20 November 2020, Rocket Lab successfully returned an Electron first stage from an orbital launch, the stage softly splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. China is researching the reusability of the Long March 8 system. , the only operational reusable orbital-class launch systems are the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, the latter of which is based upon the Falcon 9. SpaceX is also developing the fully-reusable Starship launch system, and Blue Origin is developing its own New Glenn partially-reusable orbital rocket, as it is intending to recover and reuse only the first stage. 5 October 2020, Roscosmos signed a development contract for Amur a new launcher with a reusable first stage. In December 2020, ESA signed contracts to start developing THEMIS, a prototype reusable first stage launcher. List of reusable launch systems See also Reusable spacecraft SpaceX reusable launch system development program List of private spaceflight companies Takeoff and landing Mars Descent Vehicle Mars Ascent Vehicle Lunar Lander References Bibliography Heribert Kuczera, et al.: Reusable space transportation systems. Springer, Berlin 2011, . External links Illustration of a Space Shuttle at takeoff and Orbiter (Visual Dictionary - QAInternational) Lunar Lander Module Spacecraft propulsion Reusable spaceflight technology Space launch vehicles Space access Rocket propulsion