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Chinese firm makes breakthrough in reusable rocket technology as ground test succeeds

Global Times

By Shen Sheng Published: Jun 20, 2025 08:36 PM

A Chinese firm has made a major breakthrough in reusable rocket technology as the first-stage propulsion system of the Zhuque-3 rocket, developed by private company LandSpace, successfully completed a large-scale ground test on Friday at the Dongfeng commercial space pilot zone near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gansu Province.

A Chinese expert told the Global Times that it was a crucial step in verifying the rocket's nine-engine parallel thrust system and laying the groundwork for future vertical recovery flights.

The test was a complete success, marking a significant breakthrough in key technologies such as synchronized ignition of multiple engines, multi-stage propellant distribution, and combustion stability in liquid rocket propulsion systems. This achievement lays a solid foundation for the upcoming maiden flight of the Zhuque-3 and advances the engineering application of reusable launch vehicle technology in China, according to a report posted on a social media account of the People's Daily.

This test of the Zhuque-3 first-stage propulsion system marks China's largest and most advanced ground hot-fire test to date involving nine engines working in parallel. It reached an unprecedented level of complexity and closely simulated actual flight conditions, the report said.

The test used a first-stage rocket body identical in technical configuration to that of the Zhuque-3's upcoming maiden flight. It fully covered the launch preparation process, including propellant filling, tank pressurization, staged engine ignition, steady-state operation, and programmed shutdown. The test validated system integration and procedural soundness, with ground test conditions closely replicating flight scenarios - truly achieving the goal of "testing on the ground exactly as it flies in the sky," according to the report.

This test of the Zhuque-3 rocket was a ground-based experiment, not a flight test, but it was a crucial step in verifying the performance of nine engines operating in parallel, their thrust adjustment capabilities, and overall system integration, Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Friday, noting that Zhuque-3 is expected to conduct vertical recovery flights in the future, and this test has laid an important foundation for those missions.

The propulsion system tested featured LandSpace's independently developed Tianque-12A (TQ-12A) liquid oxygen-methane engines. Nine engines were fired in parallel, generating a combined thrust of 7,542 kN. And all systems performed normally during the test, with precise ignition sequencing and stable thrust output, according to the report.

The Zhuque-3 launch vehicle is China's first large liquid oxygen-methane rocket to feature a stainless steel body structure and a reusable first stage. It has a liftoff weight of approximately 570 tons and a total length of about 66 meters. The first stage is equipped with nine Tianque-12A engines operating in parallel, along with auxiliary propulsion systems and deployable grid fins, enabling controlled recovery and landing capability.

Wang noted that, given the rocket's overall weight of 570 tons and the complexity of its systems, ground tests are essential to ensuring safety and reliability before any flight. He said Zhuque-3 had previously completed a small-scale vertical recovery test at an altitude of 10 kilometers, but this was the first comprehensive ground verification involving the full-scale rocket body.

The success of this test demonstrates that Zhuque-3 has met the basic requirements for its maiden flight. The next key step may be a full-scale vertical recovery test, said Wang. "This marks the first time a private Chinese commercial rocket company has conducted such a large-scale ground test for a heavy-lift rocket, making it a milestone achievement," Wang added.