Chinese private space company Landspace achieved a major milestone on Friday with a successful static fire test of its upcoming reusable rocket, the Zhuque-3. The test marks a critical step toward the vehicle’s maiden orbital launch, as China ramps up efforts to develop competitive reusable launch systems.
The test took place at midnight Eastern Time (0400 UTC; 12:00 p.m. Beijing time) at Landspace’s Launch Pad 2 in the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone, located within the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China. The first stage of the Zhuque-3, powered by nine Tianque-12A methane-liquid oxygen engines, ignited in sequence and fired for 45 seconds. The engines generated a combined thrust of 7,542 kilonewtons during the test, which included gimbal control verification and a planned shutdown.
Landspace stated that the test successfully demonstrated the complete pre-launch and ignition sequence. This included propellant loading, tank pressurization, staged engine ignition, steady-state operation, and shutdown procedures. The stage used was identical to the one set to fly in the rocket’s first orbital mission.
The company hailed the test as a key foundation for advancing China’s reusable launch vehicle capabilities. While the static fire is a significant technical milestone, Landspace acknowledged that further challenges remain, including achieving orbital flight, stage recovery, and demonstrating multiple reuses.
Originally, the first Zhuque-3 launch was expected in the third quarter of 2025. It is planned to carry a prototype of the Haolong reusable cargo spacecraft, designed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The Haolong spacecraft is being developed to deliver low-cost cargo to China’s Tiangong space station. However, Landspace did not confirm a specific launch date in its latest announcement.
The Zhuque-3 is a stainless steel, two-stage rocket standing around 66 meters tall, slightly shorter than the previously announced 76.6 meters. The liftoff mass used in the test was approximately 570 metric tons. Landspace has indicated that future versions of the vehicle will weigh around 660 tons and be powered by upgraded Tianque-12B engines. When fully expendable, the rocket will be capable of carrying up to 21,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit (LEO). If the first stage is recovered downrange, payload capacity drops to 18,300 kg, and to 12,500 kg if it returns to the launch site.
Landspace previously demonstrated vertical takeoff and landing with a prototype Zhuque-3 first stage in September 2024, reaching an altitude of 10 kilometers. The company aims to begin routine recovery attempts by 2026.
The recent test also follows similar progress by other Chinese commercial players. CAS Space recently completed a static fire test for its Kinetica-2 rocket, while Space Pioneer is preparing for its own test at Haiyang after a failed attempt last year. These developments highlight a surge in China’s commercial space launch ambitions, with multiple companies targeting inaugural orbital flights in 2025.
Founded after China opened parts of its space sector to private investment in 2014, Landspace has emerged as a leading player among Chinese launch startups. The company initially attempted orbital launch with the solid-fueled Zhuque-1 in 2018, which ended in failure. Since then, Landspace has focused on methane-liquid oxygen propulsion with its Zhuque-2 rocket, which made history in July 2023 as the world’s first such rocket to reach orbit. An upgraded Zhuque-2 version launched successfully as recently as May 2025.
In December 2024, Landspace secured 870 million yuan (about $123 million) in funding from China’s National Manufacturing Transformation and Upgrading Fund to support its rocket development programs.
As competition intensifies both domestically and internationally, Landspace’s successful static fire test positions the company—and China—one step closer to operational reusable launch systems.