By Jean Landemer, correspondent in space affairs, for Eurasia Business News – October 26, 2025. Article n°1854.
China’s reusable rocket Zhuque-3, developed by the private company LandSpace, recently passed a major milestone by successfully completing a static-fire test on October 20, 2025, at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone in northwestern China.
This test, a standard prelaunch procedure where the rocket fires its nine Tianque-12A engines while remaining fixed to the launch pad, brought the rocket closer to its inaugural orbital flight expected later in 2025.
Zhuque-3 is inspired by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 but uses methane and liquid oxygen as propellants, which is a distinctive feature. The rocket is 66 meters tall, constructed from stainless steel, and is designed to be reusable with a goal of achieving first-stage recovery next year, aiming to reduce launch costs significantly and compete globally in reusable rocket technology.
The successful test marks a critical step in China’s aspiration to advance its private aerospace sector and rival established players like SpaceX in the reusable launch market.
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© Copyright 2025 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 1854
Eurasia Business News 