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Launch Vehicles
Vehicle family profile

Zhuque 3

朱雀三号

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

LandSpaceActive
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
21,000 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
202510
202602
202704
202806
202908
2030010
2031010
2032010
2033010
2034010
2035010
2036010
2037010
2038010
2039010
2040010
204101

Performance Specs

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

VariantOrbitCapacityAltitudeInclinationSource
Zhuque-3
LEO21,000 kgUnknownUnknownSpaceNews Zhuque-3 test flight report
Zhuque-3
LEO13,000 kg200 kmUnknownchinese_launch_vehicle_chart_normalized.xlsx (manual screenshot transcription; extraction date 2026-06-02 UTC)
Zhuque-3
LEO11,100 kg450 km

Recent Missions

Latest launched missions using variants in this family.

MissionVariantLaunch
Dummy payload
Zhuque-3
Dec 3, 2025

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
Zhuque-3
Not stated1Active

Forecast Location Split

1 launch location represented.

YearLocationLaunchesConfidenceBasis
2026Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center235%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2027Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center435%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2028Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center640%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2029Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center840%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2030Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center1045%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2031Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center1045%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2032Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center1045%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2033Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center1045%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2034Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center1045%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2035Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center1045%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2036Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center1045%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2037Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center1045%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2038Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center1045%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2039Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center1045%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2040Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center1045%Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.
2041Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center125%Catalog-completeness placeholder for active Zhuque-3 family; not used by latest forecast capacity snapshot.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2026 · 35% confidence
2

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2027 · 35% confidence
4

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2028 · 40% confidence
6

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2029 · 40% confidence
8

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2030 · 45% confidence
10

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Unknown
chinese_launch_vehicle_chart_normalized.xlsx (manual screenshot transcription; extraction date 2026-06-02 UTC)
Zhuque-3
LEO9,400 kgUnknownUnknownchinese_launch_vehicle_chart_normalized.xlsx (manual screenshot transcription; extraction date 2026-06-02 UTC)
Zhuque-3
SSO5,400 kg800 kmUnknownchinese_launch_vehicle_chart_normalized.xlsx (manual screenshot transcription; extraction date 2026-06-02 UTC)
Track
2031 · 45% confidence
10

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2032 · 45% confidence
10

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2033 · 45% confidence
10

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2034 · 45% confidence
10

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2035 · 45% confidence
10

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2036 · 45% confidence
10

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
2037 · 45% confidence
10

Manual 2026-06-06 review: Zhuque-3 is a reusable medium-lift family with published 2026 recovery/production plans; one launch per year is too low.

Mentions
333
All verified mentions of this launch vehicle family in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The landing burn for Zhuque-3 will start at T+08:00 and last approximately 30 seconds.

PlanValue 3.5Dec 3, 2025🚀 Zhuque-3 in about 1 hour Liftoff T+00:00 MECO (Main Engine Cutoff) T+02:09 Stage Separation T+02:14 Boostback Burn Fairing Sep T+05:24 Entry Burn T+06:11 (~46s) Landing Burn T+08:00 (~30s) Touchdown T+08:30

High-strength stainless steel laser welding material and process systems have been developed for Zhuque-3's propellant tanks.

Capability
Page9of17
Value 4.0
Dec 3, 2025
LandSpace Successfully Debuts Zhuque-3, Falls Barely Short of Landing [Zhuque-3 Y1]

Zhuque-3 reached orbit on a test flight.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.5Dec 3, 2025RT by @AJ_FI: Zhuque-3 reaches orbit on test flight, first stage lost during landing attempt https://spacenews.com/zhuque-3-reaches-orbit-on-test-flight-first-stage-lost-during-landing-attempt/

Zhuque-3 will have stage separation at T+02:14.

PlanValue 4.0Dec 3, 2025🚀 Zhuque-3 in about 1 hour Liftoff T+00:00 MECO (Main Engine Cutoff) T+02:09 Stage Separation T+02:14 Boostback Burn Fairing Sep T+05:24 Entry Burn T+06:11 (~46s) Landing Burn T+08:00 (~30s) Touchdown T+08:30

Zhuque-3's second stage is powered by one TQ-15B engine generating approximately 100 tons of thrust.

CapabilityValue 4.5Dec 3, 2025LandSpace Successfully Debuts Zhuque-3, Falls Barely Short of Landing [Zhuque-3 Y1]

The Zhuque-3 second stage is expected to reenter the atmosphere in the near future.

PlanValue 3.0Dec 3, 2025As for the Zhuque-3 second stage, that has now been catalogued by US Space Force in a 142 by 1,402-kilometre orbit inclined by 57 degrees. That wouldn't be a useful orbit, but that perigee means it's going to reenter the atmosphere in the near future and not be a menace in LEO.

Zhuque-3 features an innovative first-stage configuration with a fuel tank above the oxygen tank and enhanced aerodynamic designs.

CapabilityValue 4.0Dec 3, 2025LandSpace Successfully Debuts Zhuque-3, Falls Barely Short of Landing [Zhuque-3 Y1]

The Zhuque-3 second stage has been catalogued by US Space Force.

GeneralValue 2.0Dec 3, 2025As for the Zhuque-3 second stage, that has now been catalogued by US Space Force in a 142 by 1,402-kilometre orbit inclined by 57 degrees. That wouldn't be a useful orbit, but that perigee means it's going to reenter the atmosphere in the near future and not be a menace in LEO.

LandSpace is producing additional Zhuque-3 vehicles at its manufacturing facility in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province.

GrowthCapabilityValue 4.0Dec 3, 2025LandSpace Successfully Debuts Zhuque-3, Falls Barely Short of Landing [Zhuque-3 Y1]

The landing attempt of the Zhuque-3 first stage failed.

CapabilityPlanValue 3.5Dec 3, 2025This is a spectacular view of the fiery descent and failed landing attempt of the Zhuque-3 first stage. https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5239754958311987

LandSpace declared Zhuque-3’s debut flight a complete success, demonstrating five important technology breakthroughs.

CapabilityValue 2.5Dec 3, 2025LandSpace Successfully Debuts Zhuque-3, Falls Barely Short of Landing [Zhuque-3 Y1]

Zhuque-3 was equipped with dummy payloads simulating the expected mass for satellites.

CapabilityValue 3.0Dec 3, 2025LandSpace Successfully Debuts Zhuque-3, Falls Barely Short of Landing [Zhuque-3 Y1]

The launch of Zhuque-3 was a success.

GeneralPlanValue 1.8Dec 3, 2025LANDSPACE failed to recover Zhuque-3's first stage on its maiden launch. But the launch was a success. The payload has been inserted into orbit! Congratulations 🎉

The first stage of Zhuque-3 was lost during the landing attempt.

GeneralValue 4.0Dec 3, 2025RT by @AJ_FI: Zhuque-3 reaches orbit on test flight, first stage lost during landing attempt https://spacenews.com/zhuque-3-reaches-orbit-on-test-flight-first-stage-lost-during-landing-attempt/

The Zhuque-3's booster underwent a rapid, unscheduled disassembly before hitting the ground.

GeneralCapabilityValue 3.0Dec 3, 2025LandSpace Successfully Debuts Zhuque-3, Falls Barely Short of Landing [Zhuque-3 Y1]

The fairing of Zhuque-3 is split into two halves and has a diameter of 5.2 meters.

CapabilityValue 4.0Dec 3, 2025LandSpace Successfully Debuts Zhuque-3, Falls Barely Short of Landing [Zhuque-3 Y1]

Zhuque-3 integrates a nine-engine parallel liquid oxygen-methane propulsion system for the first time in China.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.2Dec 3, 2025LandSpace Successfully Debuts Zhuque-3, Falls Barely Short of Landing [Zhuque-3 Y1]

Zhuque-3's fully fueled mass is estimated to be approximately 660,000 kilograms.

CapabilityValue 4.2Dec 3, 2025LandSpace Successfully Debuts Zhuque-3, Falls Barely Short of Landing [Zhuque-3 Y1]

The first-stage of Zhuque-3 is powered by nine TQ-12B engines generating approximately 900 tons of thrust.

CapabilityValue 4.2Dec 3, 2025LandSpace Successfully Debuts Zhuque-3, Falls Barely Short of Landing [Zhuque-3 Y1]

Zhuque-3 will experience main engine cutoff (MECO) at T+02:09.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.0Dec 3, 2025🚀 Zhuque-3 in about 1 hour Liftoff T+00:00 MECO (Main Engine Cutoff) T+02:09 Stage Separation T+02:14 Boostback Burn Fairing Sep T+05:24 Entry Burn T+06:11 (~46s) Landing Burn T+08:00 (~30s) Touchdown T+08:30