A test conducted last weekend brought China’s first reusable rocket one step closer to reality.
From October 18 to 20, 2025, LandSpace, one of China’s leading commercial aerospace companies, successfully completed propellant loading rehearsals and a static fire test for its Zhuque-3 rocket.
Footage of the Zhuque-3 static fire test
This static fire test marked the final major ground verification before Zhuque-3’s maiden flight. In the next stage, Zhuque-3 will target orbital launch as its primary mission objective, while simultaneously attempting recovery of the first stage.
According to the initial schedule, the maiden flight test may take place in November. If successful, Zhuque-3 will become China’s first reusable rocket.
LandSpace posted details of the test on X.
Zhuque-3 is a large, high-capacity, low-cost, and reusable liquid-fueled launch vehicle independently developed in China. Featuring a stainless-steel rocket body, the project was officially initiated in August 2023. The rocket measures 66.1 meters in length, with a liftoff mass of 570 tons and a fairing diameter of 5.2 meters, capable of accommodating large satellites or constellation modules.
It is designed to deliver 21.3 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) in expendable mode and 18.3 tons for missions involving recovery, with a planned reuse life of over 20 cycles.
LandSpace stated that Zhuque-3 will support satellite internet constellation deployment, with each launch capable of deploying payloads exceeding 18 tons.
In the future, as reusability technology matures, launch costs are expected to fall to one-third of those of existing rockets.
Based on publicly available information, Chinese netizens speculate that beyond serving dense launch demands for China’s satellite internet constellation, large communication satellites, and various types of spacecraft, Zhuque-3 may also test a reusable spaceplane, the Haolong aerospace vehicle. This spacecraft is designed as a primary cargo vehicle for China’s space station, capable of providing short-term supply missions.
In recent years, alongside Zhuque-3, other reusable rockets such as the Tianlong and Long March series have also entered or are approaching their testing phases. The year 2025 could mark a turning point for China’s reusable rocket development.
Editor: Zhongxiaowen
