China’s LandSpace Achieves First-Ever Ground Recovery of Stainless Steel, Liquid Methane Zhuque-3 Reusable Rocket

August 23, 2026

Facebook (Xinhua News) China

Overview

Chinese private space company LandSpace successfully completed the first-ever ground recovery of the first stage of its reusable Zhuque-3 rocket, marking a significant advancement for China’s space industry. The stainless steel rocket, powered by liquid oxygen and methane, demonstrated a precise landing using its deployed legs. This achievement signifies China’s entry into the engineering phase of reusable rocket technology, accelerating the development of low-cost, high-frequency launch services and enhancing China’s competitiveness in the global space transport market.

In Depth

Key Findings

Chinese private space company LandSpace has successfully completed the first-ever ground recovery of the first-stage booster of its reusable Zhuque-3 rocket, marking a pivotal moment in China’s space industry development. This landmark achievement demonstrates China’s significant progress in reusable rocket technology, holding the potential to drastically reduce future space launch costs and reshape global access to space.

Technical / Clinical Details

The Zhuque-3 rocket is notable for its use of a stainless steel structure, which is advantageous for containing cryogenic liquid methane propellant and offers benefits in terms of manufacturing cost reduction, improved processing efficiency, and easier post-flight maintenance. The propulsion system utilizes liquid oxygen and methane, a ‘methalox’ combination known for its clean combustion and high performance. During the successful recovery, the first-stage booster executed a controlled soft landing on solid ground using its precise landing legs, a technology analogous to that employed by SpaceX’s Starship. This technical feat addresses a critical challenge in the development of reusable rocket systems, validating key engineering solutions for multi-flight capabilities.

Background & Context

The global space industry has increasingly shifted towards reusable rocket technology, exemplified by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Starship, as a means to dramatically cut launch costs and democratize access to space. While China has been steadily advancing its state-backed space programs, this success by a private Chinese entity in orbital-class rocket reusability is a first, underscoring the effectiveness of national strategies to foster a robust private space sector. LandSpace’s achievement is set to bolster China’s standing not only domestically but also in the competitive international space launch services market.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

The success of Zhuque-3 represents a crucial step towards LandSpace’s ambitious goal of achieving aircraft-like frequency for rocket reusability. Once fully established, this technology is expected to further drive down satellite launch costs, thereby accelerating commercial activities and scientific research in space. Furthermore, the acquisition of such complex technology by a Chinese private space company will stimulate domestic innovation and, in conjunction with government-led programs, enhance China’s overall space capabilities. The future operational development of Zhuque-3 and its potential impact on the global space transportation landscape will be closely watched.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/XinhuaNewsAgency/posts/china-launched-the-reusable-rocket-zhuque-3-on-wednesday-morning-achieving-its-f/1501044788724717/

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