21 Oct 2025: LandSpace, a Chinese commercial launch company, is preparing for its first test launch of its partially reusable Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) rocket. LandSpace completed a successful series of static test fires of the 9 Tianque-12A engines from 18-20 October at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone within the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The launch is currently set for no earlier than 3 November 2025. The ZQ-3 is comparable to the Falcon 9 in both size and lift capacity and also intends to have a reusable first stage. Unlike the Falcon 9, the ZQ-3 uses liquid methane and liquid oxygen (methaLOX) for propellant. We’ve talked about LandSpace in previous editions of the Flash as they were the first to ever use methaLOX to reach orbit on their ZQ-2 rocket in July of 2023. Developing an operational, reusable launch platform is a critical component to China’s ambitious plans to field multiple proliferated Low Earth Orbit satellite constellations. Video of June Static Fire. Video of Oct Static Fire.
– Excerpts from Mike Wall’s article on space.com:
- “LandSpace conducted a static-fire test with its stainless steel Zhuque-3 launcher on Monday (Oct. 20), keeping the rocket on track for a debut expected to occur before the end of the year.”
- “Zhuque-3 looks a lot like SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, which also features a reusable first stage and an expendable upper stage. Like the Falcon 9, Zhuque-3’s booster is powered by nine engines — in this case, Tianque-12As, which LandSpace developed in house.”
- “The Tianque-12A employs liquid methane and liquid oxygen (LOX) propellants — a key difference with the Falcon 9, whose Merlin engines burn LOX and rocket-grade kerosene. (SpaceX‘s next-gen Raptor engine, which powers its Starship megarocket, uses LOX and liquid methane.)”
- “The 217-foot-tall (66 meters) Zhuque-3 can haul about 40,350 pounds (18,300 kilograms) to low Earth orbit (LEO). That’s in roughly the same ballpark as the Falcon 9, whose LEO payload capacity is 50,265 pounds (22,800 kg).”
- “The Oct 20 “static fire was the latest in a series of significant milestones for the Zhuque-3. For example, LandSpace performed low-altitude launch and landing tests with the vehicle last year, and it conducted a static fire this past June.”
The patch set for the ZQ-3 first mission (@raz_liu via X).
ZQ-3 vehicle and mission graphic (nasaspaceflight.com).
ZQ-1 hop test (nasaspaceflight.com).
ZQ-3 on the test stand (nasaspaceflight.com).
