Abstract: The aerodynamic characteristics of the reentry stage of the first sub-stage of two vertical take-off and landing rockets based on grid rudder and glider are simulated and analyzed. The aerodynamic characteristics of the first sub-stage of two configurations are obtained. The flow structure characteristics of the sub-stage are analyzed, and the variation of aerodynamic characteristics with Ma number and angle of attack is studied. The results show that the axial and the normal force coefficient of the sub-stage with grid rudder first increase and then decrease with the Ma number. The axial and normal force coefficient of the sub-stage based on glider configuration decrease gradually with the increase of Ma number when Ma number is above 2 at small angle of attack. By comparison, the static stability of the sub-stage with grid rudder configuration is better than the sub-stage with glide configuration, ,which means that the sub-stage with grid rudder was more suitable for a mission requiring accurate control of the landing point. Meanwhile, the lift-drag ratio of the sub-stage with glider configuration is higher than that of the grid rudder configuration, indicating that the sub-stage with glider was more applicable for long distance gliding.