Landspace’s Zhuque-3 Rocket Completes First-Stage Test for Maiden Launch
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Between October 18 and 20, 2025, Landspace successfully completed the first stage of the maiden flight mission for its Zhuque-3 Y1 liquid oxygen–methane (LOX–methane) rocket at the No. 2 launch pad in the Dongfeng Commercial Spaceflight Innovation Test Zone.
Between October 18 and 20, 2025, Landspace successfully completed the first stage of the maiden flight mission for its Zhuque-3 Y1 liquid oxygen–methane (LOX–methane) rocket at the No. 2 launch pad in the Dongfeng Commercial Spaceflight Innovation Test Zone.
The test phase included propellant loading rehearsals and a static fire test, marking a key milestone in Zhuque-3’s development.
The Zhuque-3 is a large-scale, reusable LOX–methane rocket with first-stage reusability. Developed by Landspace, it is designed for large-constellation deployment, high-frequency satellite launches, and crewed spacecraft missions.
The rocket stands about 66 meters tall, weighs approximately 570 metric tons at liftoff, and can deliver at least 18.3 tons to low-Earth orbit. Its first orbital launch is planned for later this year, marking a major step forward in China’s commercial reusable launch vehicle capabilities.
According to the company, Landspace will next conduct vertical operations rehearsals before returning the rocket to the technical area for inspections and preparations ahead of the official orbital launch and first-stage recovery test.
The Zhuque-3 test mission consists of two stages:
- Stage 1: Propellant loading and static fire test, followed by return to the technical area for inspection and maintenance.
- Stage 2: Orbital launch and an attempted recovery of the first stage. Zhuque-3 has now entered the critical preparation phase for its maiden flight.
On October 24, 2025, Elon Musk posted his comments on Zhuque-3 carrier rocket via social media platform X. He noted that the design of this rocket is similar to the Falcon 9, the main carrier of his own SpaceX, but it incorporates designs from the new-generation Starship heavy-lift rocket, such as liquid oxygen-methane fuel and a stainless steel rocket body.
Therefore, it may surpass the Falcon 9 in the future. However, he also stated that Starship is in a different league (there is no comparison between the two). Zhuque-3 will take about five more years to reach the current maturity level of the Falcon 9, and by then, Starship will have been widely deployed. Finally, he emphasized that only through continuous innovation can one remain invincible.
