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'Zhuque-3'

China's reusable rocket fires up with 9 engines to challenge Elon Musk's SpaceX

SUMMARY

Chinese startup Landspace conducted a successful static fire test of its Zhuque-3 rocket, firing nine engines for 45 seconds. The test produced a thrust of 7,542 kN. This milestone is critical as Landspace aims for an orbital launch in the third quarter of 2025, with plans to carry a prototype of the reusable Haolong cargo spacecraft.

The Zhuque-3 utilizes a proprietary methane-liquid oxygen engine. Landspace's previous attempt in 2018 ended in failure, but they successfully launched Zhuque-2 in 2023, marking a new era for reusable rockets in China.


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