China’s Zhuque-3 Rocket to Make Maiden Flight This Year, Aims to Become Nation’s First Reusable Launch Vehicle

China is on the brink of a new space revolution. The Zhuque-III rocket, developed by LandSpace, is set to become the country’s first operational reusable rocket this year. With successful ignition tests and an upcoming maiden flight, China is poised to redefine low cost space access and challenge global competitors like SpaceX in the commercial launch market.

BEIJING (JUST UNTOLD STORY) 12th Nov 2025 — China’s reusable rocket Zhuque-III is preparing for its maiden flight later this year, marking a major milestone in the nation’s commercial space race, the Global Times reported on Monday.

Developed by LandSpace, one of China’s leading private aerospace companies, Zhuque-III has successfully completed its fueling rehearsal and static ignition test in October entering the final phase of flight readiness. According to STCN.com, this achievement positions Zhuque-III to become China’s first operational reusable launch vehicle, a feat no other Chinese rocket has yet accomplished.

LandSpace confirmed that the maiden flight test mission will unfold in two stages beginning with a round of fueling and ignition trials, followed by a technical inspection. The second phase will focus on achieving orbital launch and an attempted first stage recovery, a critical milestone in reusable technology validation.

As reported by CCTV, Zhuque-III is designed as a large-capacity, low-cost, reusable liquid launch vehicle capable of deploying large-scale satellite constellations. The rocket stands 66.1 meters tall, with a takeoff mass of 570 tons and thrust exceeding 750 tons. Constructed primarily from stainless steel, its structure features a 4.5 meter core diameter and 5.2 meter payload fairing.

After completing orbital missions, Zhuque-III will be capable of autonomous reentry, precision landing, and reusability, drastically reducing launch costs and turnaround time.

“If China achieves a breakthrough in this field, it will mark a monumental step in global competitiveness lowering the cost of space access, boosting constellation deployment, and entering the era of large-scale space transportation,” a LandSpace spokesperson told Global Times.

Parallel to Zhuque-III’s development, China is also advancing the Tianlong-III rocket program. According to Xinhua News Agency, a first-stage propulsion test for Tianlong-III was conducted successfully in Shandong Province on September 15. With a payload capacity exceeding 20 tons to low Earth orbit, Tianlong-III is also scheduled for its maiden flight within 2025, capable of launching up to 36 satellites in one mission.

Industry experts anticipate that multiple reusable rocket designs, including the Lijian-II and Long March 12A, will also debut this year, according to CCTV.

Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told Global Times that these advancements will “significantly expand China’s commercial launch capacity” and allow the nation to “capture a larger share of the global space transportation market.”

He added that the innovation cycle within China’s private aerospace sector will also stimulate domestic demand and strengthen the ecosystem around satellite communication, data services, and orbital manufacturing.

With Zhuque-III leading the way, China is set to join the elite ranks of nations capable of fielding reusable rocket technology a development that could reshape global commercial space competition and accelerate humanity’s journey toward cost effective access to orbit.