“The rocket landed smoothly and accurately, and remained in good condition. The flight was a complete success,” the company announced.
China beats SpaceX with world’s first methane-powered rocket launch
China beats SpaceX with world’s first methane-powered rocket launch
The test rocket is a prototype that incorporates the latest technology in landing gear, ground control systems and precision guidance for vertical recovery – all of which are crucial to the success of Zhuque-3’s maiden flight targeted to take place in 2025.
“It helped us obtain core flight data on key technologies involved in the development of the Zhuque-3 reusable methane-liquid oxygen rocket,” the company said.
The 18.3 metre-long, 3.4 metre-wide test rocket was not only the largest of its kind in China, but also the world’s first stainless steel VTVL rocket.
It was powered by a Tianque-12B engine, which will be used on the two-stage, medium-lift Zhuque-3.
In world first, China’s LandSpace methane rocket sends satellites into orbit
In world first, China’s LandSpace methane rocket sends satellites into orbit
Zhuque-3 will be 76.6 metres long and 4.5 metres wide and will combine features of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Starship rockets. Powered by nine Tianque-12B engines, it is expected to be able to carry up to 18.3 tonnes (15 tons) of payload into low Earth orbit if its first stage is recovered down range.
The company said Zhuque-3’s first stage was designed to be reused at least 20 times, which could support China’s demand for frequent launches to assemble satellite-based internet constellations and for the commercial launch of large communications satellites and other spacecraft.
02:42
The company using cow dung to fuel Japan’s space ambitions
The company using cow dung to fuel Japan’s space ambitions
Before LandSpace’s VTVL test on Friday, at least four other companies in China had conducted hop tests for reusable rockets. They include the Beijing-based iSpace and Galactic Energy, the Nantong-based Deep Blue Aerospace, and CAS Space headquartered in Guangzhou.
In 2022, Deep Blue Aerospace carried out a 1km (0.6 miles) VTVL test for the development of its Nebula-1 reusable launcher.
LandSpace said its next goal was to conduct a 10km flight test with the VTVL rocket, but did not give a time frame.
The most famous hop tests in private space flight include SpaceX’s Grasshopper tests, carried out about a decade ago to aid the development of the Falcon 9 rocket.
