Upcoming Osmo 360 II Captured 8K/60fps Panoramic Shots of LandSpace’s Rocket Launch Onsite Alongside DJI’s Ecosystem of Handheld Cameras and Civilian Drones

Surviving a 500°C Reentry: DJI Osmo Action 6 Becomes the First Consumer Camera to Capture POV Footage of a Rocket Launch and Recovery

DJI, a global leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, today announced the historic launch of its Osmo Action 6 cameras into space and their successful reentry to Earth. DJI’s comprehensive imaging ecosystem, including the upcoming Osmo 360 II, was deployed to create an on-site filming network that captured the mission from the sky to the ground.

During the successful launch and recovery of the reusable Zhuque-3 rocket by LandSpace, a privately owned commercial aerospace company, twelve DJI Osmo Action 6 cameras were mounted directly onto the rocket’s first-stage body. The mission marked the first time a consumer-grade action camera had been used to record a space rocket’s launch and recovery without any special modifications. The Osmo Action 6 cameras endured extreme operating temperatures of up to 500°C as the rocket traveled into space and returned to Earth. They also captured remarkable first-person footage throughout the journey—from engine ignition and liftoff, through the ascent and atmospheric flight, to the first-stage landing and recovery.

Osmo Action 6 Launched Into Space Without Modifications

The Osmo Action 6 cameras were mounted at several critical points on the rocket’s first-stage body, providing a first-person perspective that captured the entire launch and recovery process. This footage offers a unique viewpoint compared with previous recordings that focused primarily on one-way journeys or space-based perspectives. For the commercial spaceflight industry, where rocket reusability is essential for reducing costs, the high-fidelity footage provides valuable insights for aerospace engineers. It can be used to review the recovery process, evaluate the condition of the first-stage rocket body, identify potential issues, and help replicate successful recovery operations.

Osmo Action 6 Survives Extreme Conditions in Space 

Capturing the footage posed significant technical challenges. During both ascent and reentry, aerodynamic heating can raise the rocket’s surface temperature to approximately 400°C–500°C, while the engines and flight conditions generate continuous, high-frequency, high-intensity vibrations. Adding to the difficulty, the rocket passes through an atmospheric “blackout zone,” during which external communications can be completely disrupted.

Despite these extreme conditions, the DJI Osmo Action 6 demonstrated remarkable durability for a mass-produced consumer camera. Its high-strength integrated design enabled it to withstand the harsh environment, while its built-in recording capability eliminated reliance on external communication during the blackout period. As a result, the cameras were able to preserve the high-definition footage and deliver the recorded data intact after the rocket returned to Earth.

Osmo Action 6 Captures Steady, Clean Footage

The Osmo Action 6's new-generation, ultra-powerful stabilization algorithm made it possible to "shoot steady," filtering out the image shake caused by the rocket body's high-frequency vibration without over-cropping the frame. Even during the launch’s high g-loads and large maneuvers during first-stage attitude adjustments, the Osmo Action 6 delivered smooth and coherent footage while faithfully reproducing the details and attitude changes of the rocket's flight. It was also able to "shoot clear" in the extremely complex lighting conditions of space – a testament to its strength. Equipped with a 1/1.1-inch custom square large-format sensor, supporting recording of up to 4K/120fps and 13.5 stops of high dynamic range, the camera was able to adapt to the complex lighting environment in space – from intense high-altitude sunlight, low-altitude backlighting, and sand and dust. The resulting footage preserved the rich highlight and shadow details, while clearly capturing key high-speed moments such as the engine’s ignition, grid-fin attitude adjustment, and landing cushioning.

DJI Cameras - including upcoming Osmo 360 II - Films the Launch Closely On-site 

Beyond the rocket-mounted first-person perspective, DJI’s comprehensive imaging ecosystem was deployed to create an on-site filming network extending from the sky to the ground. The setup included the DJI Mavic 4 Pro for aerial photography, DJI Matrice 4TD for thermal imaging, Osmo 360 II for panoramic 360° footage, and Osmo Pocket 4P for cinematic-quality video. Together, these imaging solutions provided high-altitude tracking, thermal monitoring, and ground-level behind-the-scenes footage. By combining multiple perspectives with minimal blind spots, DJI’s imaging ecosystem captured this historic moment in aerospace from every angle.