The Chinese company Landspace has successfully completed a fire test of the first stage of its Zhuque-3 reusable rocket. The test was an important step in preparing the rocket for its first orbital flight.
The fire took place on September 20. It involved the first stage, identical to the one that will be used for the first flight of Zhuque-3, and demonstrated all stages of launch preparation, including fueling and tank sealing.
During the test, nine Tianque-12A engines installed on the first stage of the rocket, powered by methane and liquid oxygen, ignited sequentially and operated for 45 seconds, including gimbal control tests. After that, they were shut down as planned. The test produced a thrust of 7542 kN.
According to an official statement, Zhuque-3 has a takeoff weight of approximately 570 metric tons and a total length of approximately 66 meters. Earlier, the company reported that the rocket would be 76.6 meters long and capable of launching up to 21 tons of cargo into orbit in a completely disposable configuration. This suggests that, at least during its first missions, Zhuque-3 will have a reduced payload capacity compared to its previously announced capabilities.
In any case, the successful test was an important step in China’s long-term efforts to develop reusable launch vehicles. The next milestone should be the first orbital flight. Current plans call for it to take place in the third quarter of 2025.
During its debut flight, the rocket will carry a prototype of the reusable Haolong cargo spacecraft, developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute under the Aviation Industry Corporation. The test is part of a program to deliver low-cost cargo to the Tiangong space station.
It should be noted that Landspace was the first company in history to successfully launch cargo into orbit using a methane rocket. This occurred in December 2023.According to Spacenews
