China's LandSpace Launches Reusable Zhuque-3 Y2 Rocket

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Key takeaways

Chinese commercial firm LandSpace launched the Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket and recovered its first stage in Gansu Province.
The rocket uses 9 Tianque-12A liquid oxygen-methane engines to generate 760 tons of liftoff thrust.
Built with a high-strength stainless-steel airframe, the rocket can haul up to 18.3 tons to Low Earth Orbit.
This mission marks another major step in China's development of reusable space launch technology alongside state programs like Long March-10B.

Beijing-based private company LandSpace launched its Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket, successfully putting the Honghu-03 satellite into orbit.
The mission reached a major milestone by soft-landing the reusable first-stage booster in Gansu Province.

The Zhuque-3 is a two-stage, medium-to-heavy orbital rocket built with a stainless-steel structure and powered by liquid oxygen-methane fuel.
Private Chinese firm LandSpace designed this launch vehicle for vertical takeoff and vertical landing recovery.
The project aims to lower space transportation costs by reusing the expensive first stage multiple times.
This cost-effective model supports the rapid deployment of large satellite internet constellations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Nine Tianque-12A liquid oxygen-methane engines power the first stage, generating more than 760 tons of liftoff thrust while burning clean without heavy soot.
The rocket uses high-strength stainless steel instead of traditional aluminum-lithium alloy, offering superior heat resistance and lower manufacturing costs.
It measures 66.1 metres in length and 4.5 metres in diameter, with a total liftoff mass of 570 tons.
The vehicle can carry up to 14.2 to 18.3 tons of payload to Low Earth Orbit in expendable mode.
Steerable grid fins, thrusters, and safety algorithms guide the booster to land softly on 4 deployable legs using supersonic retro-propulsion.
This flight is China's second major booster recovery success, following the state-owned Long March-10B sea recovery effort.

The United States leads in reusability with rockets like Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Starship, New Shepard, and New Glenn.
China advances its capabilities through projects like Long March-10B and Zhuque-3.
India builds its reusable technology through ISRO flight tests such as RLV-TD and RLV-LEX.
Europe develops reusable rocket components through the European Space Agency Themis programme.
Japan tests reusable launch concepts under the JAXA CALLISTO project.