Active
Tianlong-2
Two-stage kerosene-liquid oxygen orbital rocket; the first privately developed Chinese liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit.
Space PioneerTianlong-3
In Development
Two-stage kerolox rocket with a reusable first stage, designed as a Falcon 9-class vehicle for China's satellite-internet constellations. Official specs: 72 m tall, 3.8 m diameter, 600 t liftoff mass, 855 t thrust, nine TH-12 first-stage engines, one TH-12V second-stage engine, and a TH-32 upper stage. The company also lists a heavier TL-3H strap-on variant (85.2 m, 68 t to LEO) that has not flown.
Latest update Sep 8, 2026
01
Current status
Maiden flight on April 3, 2026 from Jiuquan failed after an engine-bay anomaly about 33 seconds after liftoff, losing Hangsheng-8. As of early September 2026 the 'zeroing' investigation has no public close-out; a second vehicle is still only reported as being prepared for a possible attempt before the end of 2026. Official page now quotes 17-22 t to LEO and at least 20 first-stage reuses.
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Specifications7
03
Upcoming milestones3
Announced next steps from Space Pioneer that mention Tianlong-3.
2026
Tianlong-3 return to flight
Close the 'zeroing' fault investigation into the April 3, 2026 engine-bay failure and fly a second Tianlong-3. As of early September 2026 no public close-out or dated attempt has been issued; a second vehicle is still only reported as being prepared for a possible try before the end of 2026.
2026-2027
Demonstrate first-stage recovery and reuse
After a successful return to orbit, recover and refly the Tianlong-3 first stage. Official specs now list at least 20 planned first-stage reuses; no recovery was attempted on the April 2026 failure.
2027+
Scale launch cadence for constellations
Ramp Tianlong-3 production and flight rate to serve China's national satellite-internet mega-constellation deployment. That cadence is gated on first closing the April failure investigation and flying again.
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