The first test flight of Landspace’s Zhuque-3 rocket ended with a loud explosion after successfully reaching orbit.
Chinese company Landspace launched its 216-foot (66-meter) stainless steel Zhuque-3 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northern China’s Gobi Desert on Tuesday (December 2). Reusable rocket powered by methane, liquid and oxygen successfully placed its expendable second stage into orbit, report says statement from Landspace.
This is a spectacular view of the fiery and failed landing attempt of the Zhuque-3 first stage over the desert. https://t.co/amZBLFWupG https://t.co/L51Dcq3XDL pic.twitter.com/x1Dg802mFPDecember 3, 2025
Despite the landing failure, Landspace hails the test flight as a success, adding in its social media post that “China’s first rocket recovery attempt achieved expected technical goals.” These include verification of Zhuque-3’s recovery system, engine acceleration and attitude control. Still images from videos of the crash landing show that the first stage landed just meters from its target landing zone.
LANDSPACE was unable to recover the first stage of Zhuque-3 on its maiden launch. But the launch was a success. The payload has been launched into orbit! Congratulations 🎉 https://t.co/9VOQXRFKGK pic.twitter.com/F9mIKYVgjcDecember 3, 2025
Zhuque-3 looks like the reliable one from SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket; Both rockets feature a reusable first stage and an expendable upper stage and are powered by nine engines.
However, the Zhuque-3’s Tianque-12A engines run on a mixture of liquid methane and liquid oxygen (methalox), while the Falcon 9’s Merlin engines burn liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene.
The payload capacity of the Zhuque-3 is also similar to that of the Falcon 9, capable of lifting 40,350 pounds (18,300 kilograms) to low earth orbit (LION). Meanwhile, Falcon 9 can send 50,265 pounds (22,800 kg) to LEO.
A previous Landspace rocket, Zhuque-2, became the world’s first methane-powered rocket to reach orbit. in July 2023. SpaceX’s Raptor engine, which powers its Super Heavy booster and Starship second-stage vehicle, also burns liquid methane and liquid oxygen.
Zhuque rockets are named after the vermilion bird from Chinese mythology that represents the element of fire in the Taoist five-element cosmological system.
