Zhuque family

Zhuque-3

Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) is a reusable orbital launch vehicle developed by Chinese private company LandSpace. The rocket is built using stainless steel and shares the same series of gas generator cycle methane/liquid oxygen powered rocket engines as in the currently active ZQ-2E rocket. The first stage uses 9 TQ-12 engines (initially the TQ-12A, then upgraded TQ-12B) while the second stage uses 1 TQ-15 engine (TQ-15A, then TQ-15B). On launch missions where the first stage is recovered, it will land on a down-range landing pad located in Minqin County, Gansu Province.

Flights flown2

Success rate100%2/2

Payload to LEO21,300kg

Maiden flight2025-12-03

Peak year20251 flight

Zhuque-3 is built by LandSpace of China. Company background, funding, contracts and news for this operator are tracked on Space Index. It first flew on 3 December 2025.

Flight record

2 records

100% success rate2 of 2 flown

2025peak 2025 · 1 flight2026

First flight2025-12-03

Latest flight2026-08-18

Failures0

Consecutive successes2

Fastest turnaround258d 19h

Landing record

Booster recovery

50% landings recovered1 of 2 flown · 1 failed

Reuse rate is successful landings divided by attempted landings, both as reported upstream. It counts recovery attempts, not reflights.

Payload

Per mission profile

Low Earth orbit	21,300kg

Vehicle

Stages	2
Length	76.6m
Diameter	4.5m
Launch mass	660t
Liftoff thrust	9,000kN
Maiden flight	2025-12-03
Reusable	Yes

Pads used

1 pad

Launch Area 96B2

Orbits delivered

1 orbit

Low Earth Orbit2

Launch history

2 launches

Date	Mission	Pad	Orbit	Outcome
2026-08-18	Zhuque-3 \| Honghu-03	Launch Area 96B	Low Earth Orbit	Success
2025-12-03	Zhuque-3 \| Demo Flight	Launch Area 96B	Low Earth Orbit	Success

Specifications from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs, launch records from Space Index. Derived figures are computed here; see sources and method.