China test-fires reusable rocket with 9 engines to challenge SpaceX

Chinese rocket startup Landspace successfully conducted a static fire test of its Zhuque-3 rocket’s first stage on June 20 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The test involved firing nine proprietary Tianque-12A methane-liquid oxygen engines sequentially for 45 seconds, producing 7,542 kN of thrust. This milestone is a key step toward Landspace’s planned orbital launch of Zhuque-3, a reusable rocket designed to compete with SpaceX’s technology. The company views this successful test as foundational for advancing China’s reusable launch vehicle capabilities. Landspace aims to launch Zhuque-3 into orbit in the third quarter of 2024, carrying a prototype of the reusable Haolong cargo spacecraft developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute under AVIC. The company has been progressing steadily since its first launch failure in 2018 with Zhuque-1, achieving a significant milestone in 2023 when Zhuque-2 became the first methane-LOX rocket to reach