Zhuque-3

In Development
LandSpace
LandSpace
Zhuque-3

Overview

Two-stage, stainless-steel, methane-liquid oxygen rocket with a reusable first stage; LandSpace's Falcon 9-class vehicle aimed at low-cost, high-cadence launch. An enhanced Zhuque-3E variant is in development.

Maiden flight on December 3, 2025 placed its payload in orbit, but abnormal combustion during descent prevented booster recovery. After a nine-engine first-stage static fire on June 29, 2026, LandSpace slipped the second flight and first booster-recovery attempt from Q2 to a window opening after mid-July 2026 (landing targeted at the Minqin County pad ~390 km downrange), with a first reuse flight still aimed for later in 2026.

Key Specs

Payload to LEO (expended)

11,800 kg

Payload to LEO (recovered)

8,000 kg

Height

66 m (216 ft)

Diameter

4.5 m (15 ft)

Engines

9 x TQ-12A (stage 1), 1 x TQ-15A (stage 2)

Reusability

First stage designed for up to 20 reuses

First Flight

Dec 3, 2025 (orbit reached; recovery failed)