LandSpace just hit a major milestone with its reusable Zhuque-3 rocket, completing a ground ignition test that mirrors real flight conditions for the first-stage engine cluster.
Conducted at the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone near Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern region of the Chinese mainland, this hot-fire test marks the largest and most automated nine-engine parallel cluster trial in the country to date.
Over a sustained 45-second burn, the nine self-developed liquid oxygen-methane engines generated a combined thrust of 7,542 kilonewtons, simulating propellant loading, tank pressurization, sequential engine starts and a programmed shutdown, just as it will in space.
The test validated the seamless integration of engines, pressurization systems, structures and avionics, while also stress-testing ground support and launch control processes ahead of the inaugural flight.
Measuring 4.5 meters in diameter and stretching roughly 66 meters long, Zhuque-3's first stage is engineered for at least 20 reuses and can deploy multiple flat-stack satellites in a single mission.
LandSpace's design leverages high-strength stainless steel tanks and a recoverable engine cluster that can be checked, refueled and relaunched much like an aircraft, potentially slashing launch costs by 80 to 90 percent compared to traditional single-use rockets.
With this engine-cluster trial in the books, all eyes are now on Zhuque-3's highly anticipated maiden flight in 2025, a leap forward for cost-efficient, sustainable access to space.
Reference(s):
China's reusable rocket Zhuque-3 completes major engine cluster test
cgtn.com
