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Launch Vehicles
Vehicle family profile

Tianlong-3

天龙三号

Family-level launch record combining canonical variants, historical missions, public cadence forecasts, and available payload performance specs.

Space Pioneer (Beijing Tianbing Technology Co., Ltd.)Active
Admin
Variants
1
Canonical variants linked to this family.
Historical missions
1
Missions in the public mission table with actual launch dates.
Peak listed capacity
17,000 kg
Maximum payload capacity across listed variants and orbits.

Launch Cadence

Historical missions are grouped by actual launch year. Forecast cadence uses family-level launch-rate rows.

YearHistorical missionsForecast launches
202611
202702
202803
202904
203005
203106
203208
203308
203408
203508
203608
203708
203808
203908
204008
204101

Forecast Location Split

1 launch location represented.

Performance Specs

Payload capacity by variant and target orbit when structured capacity rows are available.

VariantOrbitCapacityAltitudeInclinationSource
Tianlong-3
LEO17,000 kgUnknownUnknownSpaceNews China 2025 launcher preview
Tianlong-3
SSO14,000 kgUnknownUnknownSuzhou government Tianlong-3 profile

Recent Missions

Latest launched missions using variants in this family.

MissionVariantLaunch
Launch 2026-F05
Tianlong-3
Apr 3, 2026

Forecasted Missions

Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.

MissionVariantAnnounced

No forecasted missions

No upcoming announced mission rows are linked to this vehicle family.

Variants

Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.

VariantStagesMissionsStatus
Tianlong-3
Not stated1Active
YearLocationLaunchesConfidenceBasis
2026Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center125%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2027Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center225%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2028Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center325%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2029Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center430%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2030Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center530%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2031Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center630%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2032Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center835%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2033Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center835%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2034Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center835%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2035Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center835%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2036Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center835%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2037Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center835%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2038Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center835%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2039Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center835%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2040Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center835%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.
2041Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center125%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Tianlong-3 family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2026 · 25% confidence
1

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2027 · 25% confidence
2

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2028 · 25% confidence
3

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2029 · 30% confidence
4

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2030 · 30% confidence
5

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2031 · 30% confidence
6

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2032 · 35% confidence
8

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2033 · 35% confidence
8

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2034 · 35% confidence
8

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2035 · 35% confidence
8

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2036 · 35% confidence
8

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2037 · 35% confidence
8

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Tianlong-3 is a Falcon-9-class commercial launcher with early anomaly risk but should ramp if it enters operations.

Track
Mentions
233
All verified mentions of this launch vehicle family in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

Tianlong-3’s first-stage static fire test in September 2025 lasted about thirty seconds on a floating platform near Haiyang in Shandong province.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Apr 3, 2026Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 Fails During Maiden Flight From Jiuquan [Tianlong-3 Y1]
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Space Pioneer’s Tianlong-3 suffered an accidental launch during a static fire test on June 30, 2024.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Apr 3, 2026Back then, while having an apparent advantage for large private Chinese launchers to the pad against the likes of LandSpace, Space Pioneer was still an unknown name outside of small niche of Chinese spaceflight fans. On June 30, 2024, it all changed by failed hold down posts.

Tianlong-3’s first and second stages have a diameter of 3.8 meters.

CapabilityValue 4.0Apr 3, 2026Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 Fails During Maiden Flight From Jiuquan [Tianlong-3 Y1]

Space Pioneer was preparing for a Tianlong-3 launch on April 3, 2026.

PlanValue 2.2Apr 3, 2026RT by @raz_liu: It is launch day for Tianlong-3, with T-3h until liftoff. Wishing Space Pioneer the best of luck and a successful launch! pic.

Tianlong-3 is 71 meters tall and weighs 590,000 kilograms when fully fueled.

CapabilityValue 4.6Apr 3, 2026Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 Fails During Maiden Flight From Jiuquan [Tianlong-3 Y1]

Tianlong-3 is a partially reusable two-stage launch vehicle that burns rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen in both stages.

CapabilityValue 4.0Apr 3, 2026Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 Fails During Maiden Flight From Jiuquan [Tianlong-3 Y1]

The Tianlong-3 accident was caused by failed hold-down posts.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Apr 3, 2026Back then, while having an apparent advantage for large private Chinese launchers to the pad against the likes of LandSpace, Space Pioneer was still an unknown name outside of small niche of Chinese spaceflight fans. On June 30, 2024, it all changed by failed hold down posts.

Space Pioneer is building the Tianlong-3 rocket.

PlanCapabilityGrowthValue 2.8Apr 3, 2026After arriving in orbit on try 1 (very rare for private LSPs, Orbital Sciences is the only one came to mind!), they have not flown Tianlong-2 again for now (though an upgraded version is coming soon w/ new rocket engines, the Tianlong-2G). That’s because they are building this:

Space Pioneer made more than 120 improvements to Tianlong-3 after June 2024 events.

CapabilityValue 4.0Apr 3, 2026Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 Fails During Maiden Flight From Jiuquan [Tianlong-3 Y1]

The Tianlong-3 rocket’s current launch site is the new pad at Jiuquan, rather than mobile launch equipment or Wenchang Commercial LC-2.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Apr 3, 2026With these obstacles cleared, Space Pioneer went back to prepare for 1st launch. Unlike their previous one that used mobile launch equipment, & also their previous plans of launching from Wenchang (Commercial LC-2), TL-3’s current home will be from this new pad at Jiuquan SLC:

SPACE-PIONEER's Tianlong-3 rocket failed during its debut launch from Jiuquan.

GeneralValue 4.2Apr 3, 2026SPACE-PIONEER's highly anticipated Tianlong-3 rocket failed during its debut launch from Jiuquan hours ago.

Tianlong-3’s claimed payload capacity is 14,000 kilograms to sun-synchronous orbit with first-stage reuse.

CapabilityValue 4.0Apr 3, 2026Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 Fails During Maiden Flight From Jiuquan [Tianlong-3 Y1]

Tianlong-3’s maiden launch video shows a small explosion in the engine bay at 33 seconds.

GeneralValue 3.4Apr 3, 2026Well there were certainly fuel leaks, but this seems to be in much better control even afterward than, uh, Starship Flight 1 or Alpha Flight 1 all the way to around MECO. Hmm…

The Tianlong-3 accident drew heavy scrutiny from the central government.

GeneralGovernanceValue 1.5Apr 3, 2026The Tianlong-3 “dynamic fire” accident probably needs no re-introduction (search for it if you need it), being 1 of the most bizarre accidents in spaceflight history. It certainly made a big dent in Space Pioneer’s ambitions, leading to heavy scrutiny from the central government.

Tianlong-3’s first stage is planned to be reused ten times.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Apr 3, 2026Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 Fails During Maiden Flight From Jiuquan [Tianlong-3 Y1]

Tianlong-3’s fairing is planned to have a diameter of 4.2 meters and a length of 12 meters.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Apr 3, 2026Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 Fails During Maiden Flight From Jiuquan [Tianlong-3 Y1]

Space Pioneer currently operates Tianlong-3 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and plans to move it to the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Apr 3, 2026Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 Fails During Maiden Flight From Jiuquan [Tianlong-3 Y1]

The image compares Space Pioneer’s Tianlong-3 with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.

CapabilityGeneralValue 2.0Apr 3, 2026After arriving in orbit on try 1 (very rare for private LSPs, Orbital Sciences is the only one came to mind!), they have not flown Tianlong-2 again for now (though an upgraded version is coming soon w/ new rocket engines, the Tianlong-2G). That’s because they are building this:

Tianlong-3’s claimed payload capacity is 22,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit when expendable.

CapabilityValue 4.0Apr 3, 2026Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3 Fails During Maiden Flight From Jiuquan [Tianlong-3 Y1]

An RP-1 tanker was positioned at the bottom of the Tianlong-3 first-stage image.

GeneralValue 2.0Apr 3, 2026…and here’s a fresh TL-3 1st stage before undergoing its static fire last September: