Space Pioneer Conducts Successful Test of Tianlong-3 Reusable Rocket First Stage

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On September 15, 2025, Space Pioneer performed a static fire test of the first stage of its Tianlong-3 rocket on a floating platform in the Yellow Sea, near Shandong Province, China. The rocket stage, measuring 72 meters in height and with a mass equivalent to approximately 600 metric tons at liftoff, was secured to the platform. During the test, the nine engines operated for 35 seconds, producing a combined thrust of nearly 1,100 metric tons. This event represented a key step in the development of reusable launch technology in China, positioning Space Pioneer’s vehicle as a competitor to established systems such as SpaceX’s Falcon 9.

The origins of this achievement trace back to 2019, when Kang Yonglai, an engineer with experience in propulsion systems from government-supported initiatives, established Beijing Tianbing Technology Co., Ltd., operating as Space Pioneer. Prior to this, Kang had held the position of chief technology officer at a company specializing in solid-fuel rockets. He identified a need for increased launch capacity to support China’s expanding space objectives, including satellite constellations, lunar exploration, and interplanetary missions. While state-owned entities like the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation manage the Long March series of expendable rockets, private companies like Space Pioneer aim to provide more flexible and economical alternatives through reusable designs, similar to approaches adopted by SpaceX in the previous decade.

Space Pioneer began operations with initial funding from affiliates of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a team of engineers from state programs. The company secured multiple investment rounds within its first two and a half years, raising substantial capital to support prototype development. Its strategy emphasized learning from existing reusable rocket technologies while adapting them to China’s infrastructure, including government incentives, skilled workforce, and domestic manufacturing capabilities. By 2021, Space Pioneer introduced the Tianlong series of rockets intended for commercial applications, beginning with smaller models and progressing to larger ones. The Tianlong-2, a 30-meter vehicle, achieved suborbital flight in 2023, demonstrating the performance of its methane-liquid oxygen engines under operational conditions.

The Tianlong-3 project commenced in March 2022 to address limitations in China’s medium-lift capabilities. The rocket measures 71 meters in height, with some specifications listing it at 72 meters for operational purposes, and features a 3.8-meter diameter. Its liftoff mass is 590 metric tons, and it employs kerosene and liquid oxygen as propellants. The first stage incorporates nine Tianhuo-12 (TH-12) engines, each generating 890 kilonewtons of thrust at sea level, resulting in a total vacuum thrust equivalent to 8 megawatts. This configuration enables the delivery of 17 metric tons to low Earth orbit in expendable mode or 14 metric tons to sun-synchronous orbit, capacities comparable to those of the Falcon 9, though tailored to support China’s satellite deployment requirements. The second stage uses a single vacuum-optimized TH-12 engine, capable of achieving orbital insertions with accuracy within 5 kilometers. This precision supports the deployment of up to 36 satellites per mission, contributing to networks such as Guowang and Qianfan, which plan for more than 13,000 satellites each.

A distinguishing feature of the Tianlong-3 is its design for reusability. The first stage is engineered for vertical landings, incorporating grid fins, with an expected lifespan of 10 to 20 flights per unit. While not achieving full reusability like some advanced concepts, this partial recovery is projected to reduce costs by 30 to 50 percent. The rocket offers payload fairings in 4.2-meter and 5.2-meter diameters, accommodating payloads up to 3.8 meters in height. The TH-12 engines have undergone extensive testing, accumulating over 1,000 seconds of hot-fire duration by early 2024, including sequences of six ignitions to replicate mission profiles.

The September 2025 test in Haiyang occurred amid growth in China’s commercial space sector, where launch numbers have increased threefold over the past five years. State rockets focus on high-profile missions, while private entities address demand for satellite constellations. The test involved simultaneous operation of all nine engines for 35 seconds, achieving 1,102 metric tons of thrust. No anomalies were reported in vibrations, leaks, or other parameters. Space Pioneer described the outcome as a successful validation of integrated systems, including fuel management, avionics, and structural elements under simulated launch stresses. The company announced this via social media, indicating progress toward operational readiness.

This success followed a prior incident on June 30, 2024, at the Gongyi Engine Test Facility in Henan Province. During a static fire test, the first stage, containing 200 metric tons of propellant, detached from the test stand due to a structural failure in the mounting system. It traveled 1.5 kilometers before impacting the ground and exploding. The test stand, designed for 600 metric tons of force, was damaged by the 820 metric tons of thrust. No injuries occurred, but the event necessitated redesigns of hardware and procedures, incurring delays and additional expenses. Space Pioneer responded by conducting further engine tests totaling over 200 seconds and reconstructing the stage, demonstrating operational adaptability.

In comparison to other systems, the Tianlong-3 shares design elements with the Falcon 9, which has completed over 300 launches since 2010, including routine booster recoveries. Both utilize clustered kerosene-liquid oxygen engines and propulsive landing techniques. The Tianlong-3 leverages publicly available information on reusable technologies and benefits from China’s production efficiencies. Some observers note similarities, while Space Pioneer emphasizes independent advancements suited to local market needs, including support for up to 30 launches annually. Other Chinese competitors include LandSpace’s Zhuque-3, which completed a thrust test in June 2025 and is scheduled for debut in September 2025; Galactic Energy’s Pallas-1; i-Space’s Hyperbola-3; and the state-developed Long March-12A, targeted for late 2025. These efforts collectively aim to increase launch frequency and populate low Earth orbit with domestic hardware by 2030.

The test has implications extending beyond the immediate region. China’s space activities have transitioned from primarily government-led to incorporating commercial elements. The Tianlong-3 supports objectives such as resupplying the Tiangong space station, lunar resource surveys, and establishing satellite networks comparable to Starlink. The Guowang and Qianfan constellations, planning over 26,000 satellites, require efficient launch vehicles, with the Tianlong-3 capable of deploying 36 per flight to alleviate scheduling constraints. Economically, reusable technology may reduce costs to below $2,000 per kilogram, promoting employment at facilities like the Shandong spaceport and contributing to a projected $100 billion sector by the end of the decade.

Challenges remain in implementing reusability, including corrosion from marine environments, material durability for grid fins, and management of cryogenic propellants during descent. Regulatory approvals from bodies such as China’s Civil Aviation Authority require demonstrated safety standards. Geopolitical factors, including U.S. restrictions on technology exports, compel reliance on indigenous development, which can extend timelines. Nevertheless, Space Pioneer’s history includes the Tianlong-2’s successful orbital insertion in 2023, marking the first such achievement by a Chinese private liquid-fueled rocket on its initial attempt.

Following the test, the undamaged booster is being transported to the Wenchang Commercial Spaceport’s Launch Complex 2 for assembly. The inaugural flight is planned for late 2025, operating in expendable mode without recovery, followed by reusable operations on subsequent missions. The payload for the first launch is undisclosed but may involve satellites for sun-synchronous orbit, potentially for the Qianfan network. Future operations anticipate up to 30 missions per year, including potential applications in space tourism and sample return missions from Mars, subject to schedule alignment.

This development reflects Space Pioneer’s progression from initial concepts to operational testing, contributing to China’s role in global space activities. The Tianlong-3 addresses specific needs in launch capacity and cost efficiency, influencing the competitive landscape of reusable rocketry.

Last update on 2025-12-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API