SpaceX currently operates the world's only partially reusable rocket with its Falcon 9, having landed its first-stage boosters over five hundred times since December 2015. Now, almost a decade later, ...

The Chinese company LandSpace continues to develop the Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3), a two-stage reusable launch vehicle inspired by SpaceX's Starship and Super Heavy. They achieved their first milestone in January 2024 with a vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) using their VTVL-1 test vehicle at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northern China. By September, the company conducted a second VTVL test where the prototype hovered for over 200 seconds (the previous test lasting 60 seconds), followed by a static fire test with a prototype booster by June.

Origin

Landspace advances Zhuque-3 rocket, akin to SpaceX's Starship. Achieved key milestones: VTVL tests in Jan & Sep 2024, static fire test in June.

The Chinese company LandSpace continues to develop the Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3), a two-stage reusable launch vehicle inspired by SpaceX's Starship and Super Heavy. They achieved their first milestone in January 2024 with a vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) using their VTVL-1 test vehicle at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northern China. By September, the company conducted a second VTVL test where the prototype hovered for over 200 seconds (the previous test lasting 60 seconds), followed by a static fire test with a prototype booster by June.

Origin

Mit der ZQ-3 möchte man auch in China die Wiederverwendbarkeit von Träger-Raketen erreichen. Ein Testflug könnte noch Ende 2025 erfolgen.

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.

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.

ZhuQue-3: A Nova Era da Exploração Espacial Chinesa A corrida espacial do século XXI intensificou-se com um novo marco significativo. A China, através da Landspace, completou com sucesso o teste de fogo estático do seu foguetão pesadão e reutilizável, o ZhuQue-3. Este feito aponta para um avanço decisivo na busca do país por um papel de destaque na exploração do espaço. Resposta da China ao Domínio da SpaceX Nas últimas duas décadas, o desejo da China de liderar a exploração espacial tornou-se inegável. O país já ampliou bastante a sua capacidade de lançamentos orbitais e é um pioneiro no uso de metano como combustível.

China's space program is advancing rapidly with reusable rockets like LandSpace's Zhuque-3, challenging SpaceX's dominance. This innovation promises lower launch costs and increased frequency for global access to orbit. A key test flight is upcoming!

Илон Маск заявил, что китайская ракета Zhuque-3 от Landspace может превзойти Falcon 9. Новая метановая ракета из нержавеющей стали станет ключевым элементом китайской космической программы и символом растущей конкуренции между SpaceX и Пекином.

China's private space company LandSpace has completed a key static fire test of its Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) reusable rocket -- a stainless-steel, methane-fueled launcher modeled after SpaceX's Starship. Universe Today reports: The latest milestone took place on Monday, Oct. 22nd at the Dongfeng commercial ...

The Chinese company Landscape continues to develop the Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3), a two-stage reasuable launch vehicle inspired by SpaceX's Starship and Super Heavy. They achieved their first milestone in January 2024 with a vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) using their VTVL-1 test vehicle at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northern China. By September, the company conducted a second VTVL test where the prototype hovered for over 200 seconds (the previous test lasting 60 seconds), followed by a static fire test with a prototype booster by June.

The Chinese company Landscape continues to develop the Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3), a two-stage reasuable launch vehicle inspired by SpaceX's Starship and Super Heavy. They achieved their first milestone in January 2024 with a vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) using their VTVL-1 test vehicle at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northern China. By September, the company conducted a second VTVL test where the prototype hovered for over 200 seconds (the previous test lasting 60 seconds), followed by a static fire test with a prototype booster by June.

China's private space company LandSpace has completed a key static fire test of its Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) reusable rocket -- a stainless-steel, methane-fueled launcher modeled after SpaceX's Starship. Universe Today reports: The latest milestone took place on Monday, Oct. 22nd at the Dongfeng commercial ...

China's private space company LandSpace has completed a key static fire test of its Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) reusable rocket -- a stainless-steel, methane-fueled launcher modeled after SpaceX's Starship. Universe...

China's private space company LandSpace has completed a key static fire test of its Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) reusable rocket -- a stainless-steel, methane-fueled launcher modeled after SpaceX's Starship. Universe Today reports: The latest milestone took place on Monday, Oct. 22nd at the Dongfeng commercial ...