- What happened: Between Oct. 18–20, 2025, LandSpace’s Zhuque‑3 (ZQ‑3) Y1 completed a full wet dress rehearsal and first‑stage static‑fire at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone near Jiuquan—Phase 1 of its maiden‑mission campaign. Next up are vertical‑state operations drills before the vehicle returns to the technical area to prep for orbital launch and a first‑stage recovery attempt. stdaily.com
- Rocket at a glance: Stainless‑steel structure; 66.1 m tall; ~570 t at liftoff; >750 t liftoff thrust; 4.5 m first/second‑stage diameter; 5.2 m fairing; nine TQ‑12A methalox engines on the booster; grid fins, landing legs and RCS for guided return and soft landing. stdaily.com
- Why it matters: Zhuque‑3 would be China’s first orbital‑class reusable launcher if recovery succeeds—an essential step to lower cost and raise cadence for national broadband megaconstellations. LandSpace already proved out methalox with Zhuque‑2E flights in 2025 and became the first in the world to reach orbit with a methane‑LOX rocket in July 2023. Reuters
- Readiness signals: A nine‑engine, 45‑second booster hot‑fire in June validated multi‑engine ignition, thrust stability and ground‑to‑vehicle integration (“test on the ground exactly as it flies in the sky”). landspace.com
- When to expect launch: LandSpace hasn’t published a date. Industry reporting suggests November 2025 is plausible, after an August anomaly on a separate Zhuque‑2E mission prompted schedule reshuffles.
- Performance targets: In reusable mode Zhuque‑3 is designed for ~18.3 t to LEO (barge/downrange landing) or ~12.5 t to LEO with a return‑to‑launch‑site profile. NASA SpaceFlight.com
In‑depth report
A decisive pre‑flight milestone
China’s private launcher LandSpace says its stainless‑steel, methane‑oxygen Zhuque‑3 completed the first phase of its maiden‑mission campaign, spanning full‑vehicle cryogenic fueling (wet dress) and a booster static‑fire at LOX‑methane Pad 2 in the Dongfeng commercial space zone. The rehearsal covered horizontal transport and erection, sub‑cooled propellant loading, integrated countdown, nine‑engine ignition and hold‑down, and propellant safing—meant to replicate actual flight flow and verify pad‑vehicle interfaces. The company will now conduct vertical‑state operations drills, then roll back for inspections and launch‑campaign configuration. stdaily.com
What the rocket is
Zhuque‑3 is a two‑stage, partially reusable methalox launcher built from stainless steel—an approach aimed at thermal/structural robustness and rapid refurbishment. Specs released by Chinese media list 66.1 meters in length, ~570 tonnes liftoff mass and >750 tonnes liftoff thrust. The first stage mounts nine TQ‑12A engines and recovery hardware—grid fins, landing legs and RCS—for a guided return and soft landing. stdaily.com
What the June full‑scale hot‑fire proved
On June 20, LandSpace ran a nine‑engine, 45‑second ground firing using a booster in the same configuration intended for the maiden flight. Engineers emphasized the exercise fully mirrored launch‑flow conditions—from sub‑cooled prop loading to sequential ignition and commanded shutdown—calling it a demonstration of “test on the ground exactly as it flies in the sky.” landspace.com
Expert view
Wang Yanan, editor‑in‑chief of Aerospace Knowledge, called the nine‑engine validation “a crucial step” and “a milestone achievement” for China’s reusable‑rocket push, noting it lays groundwork for future vertical recovery flights. Global Times
Zooming out to the market, Blaine Curcio of Orbital Gateway Consulting told the U.S.‑China Economic and Security Review Commission that China’s commercial‑space sector is “extremely vibrant, but in some ways also tenuous,” with strong supply‑side support but firms still hammering out sustainable demand and business models. USCC
How close is “launch‑ready”?
LandSpace hasn’t issued a date, but industry coverage after a late‑August Zhuque‑2E anomaly suggested November 2025 for Zhuque‑3’s debut if closeout testing and reviews stay on track. The company signals it will attempt booster recovery on the maiden flight, a bold move aligned with its reusability thesis.
Performance and economics
Independent analyses outline Zhuque‑3’s intended lift capability of ~18.3 t to LEO when landing downrange, or ~12.5 t with a return‑to‑launch‑site profile—numbers that would slot it squarely in Falcon 9‑class performance if realized. NASA SpaceFlight.com
On the cost side, LandSpace’s methalox lineage is maturing: it flew an upgraded Zhuque‑2E with six satellites on May 17, 2025, and was first worldwide to orbit with methalox in 2023—both milestones that strengthen its bid to scale a reusable fleet. Reuters
Competitive landscape
Zhuque‑3 is advancing amid a broader Chinese reusability race. Firms such as Space Pioneer (Tianlong‑3) and others are moving through engine clusters and static‑fire campaigns, while legacy Long March vehicles continue to handle national missions. Zhuque‑3’s combination of stainless‑steel tanks, methalox, and nine‑engine clustering is a clear signal that China’s commercial players are converging on globally proven design trade‑offs for rapid turnaround and cost control. NASA SpaceFlight.com
What to watch next
- “Vertical‑state operations” drill at the pad, indicating pad‑ops maturity and final‑countdown rehearsals. stdaily.com
- Rollback to the technical area for inspections and closeout work, then rollout for the Phase‑2 orbital launch attempt and a booster recovery try. stdaily.com
- Launch campaign tell‑tales: hazard/airspace notices, pad‑flow photos, and a potential static‑fire re‑run with flight hardware. (Inference based on standard industry practice and LandSpace’s phased plan.) stdaily.com
Sources and further reading
- Science and Technology Daily (STD): official report on the Oct. 18–20 wet dress & static fire, specs and next steps. stdaily.com
- China News Service (CNS): corroboration of campaign phasing and technical details. China News
- LandSpace (official): June 20 nine‑engine full‑scale hot‑fire and method statement (“test as you fly”). landspace.com
- NASA Spaceflight: context on payload performance (18.3 t/12.5 t reusable profiles), schedule expectations and competitor status. NASA SpaceFlight.com
- Reuters: LandSpace’s methalox track record—May 17, 2025 Zhuque‑2E mission—and standing as first in the world to orbit with methalox (July 2023). Reuters
- Global Times: expert commentary from Wang Yanan on the significance of nine‑engine validation. Global Times
- USCC hearing (Curcio testimony): macro outlook on China’s commercial launch sector dynamics. USCC
Editor’s note: This article synthesizes official releases and independent reporting. Launch timelines can change rapidly based on test outcomes and range availability; we’ll update as LandSpace releases new campaign details.
