China's reusable rocket near launch after successful static fire test

China’s private space company LandSpace has successfully completed a critical static fire test of its Zhuque-3 rocket, bringing it closer to launching the nation’s first reusable rocket. The test, conducted on October 20, 2025, at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone, involved firing the rocket’s nine methane-liquid oxygen Tianque-12A engines while anchored to the ground. This milestone is part of the initial phase of the Zhuque-3’s maiden flight campaign, which also included a fueling test. Following this, the rocket will undergo vertical integration rehearsal and technical inspections before its planned orbital launch and first-stage recovery, expected before the end of the year. Zhuque-3 is a 66-meter tall, two-stage launch vehicle with a reusable first stage and an expendable upper stage, capable of lifting approximately 18,300 kg to low Earth orbit—slightly less than SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Its design closely mirrors Falcon 9, including the use