China’s Zhuque-3 Achieves First Successful Rocket Landing Recovery

According to 36Kr Japan, LandSpace successfully launched its Zhuque-3 Yao-2 reusable carrier rocket on August 19, achieving both orbital payload delivery and China’s first-ever land-based stage recovery using landing legs. The milestone follows a separate capture-net recovery by the Long March-10B earlier this summer, marking a major leap for the nation’s commercial aerospace sector as LandSpace pushes toward a public listing.

Zhuque-3 Yao-2 Achieves Historic Land-Based Vertical Recovery

The Zhuque-3 Yao-2 lifted off at 7:35 AM from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test District in Gansu Province, according to 36Kr Japan. Its second stage successfully deployed the Honghu-03 satellite into its designated orbit. Meanwhile, the first stage returned precisely on schedule, executing a soft landing at the Zhuque-3 landing site in Minqin County, Gansu Province. This dual success marks the first time a Chinese orbital-class launch vehicle has completed a land-based first-stage recovery.

The vehicle utilized landing legs to achieve the vertical touchdown.

Comparing China’s Two Distinct Rocket Recovery Methods

China’s aerospace sector is aggressively testing multiple recovery architectures simultaneously. Just weeks prior on July 10, the heavy-lift Long March-10B rocket achieved the world’s first-ever first-stage recovery using a maritime net-capture system, according to 36Kr Japan. While the Long March program relies on mid-air mechanical catching at sea, LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 relies on traditional grid fins and landing legs for terrestrial vertical landing. These parallel triumphs demonstrate that Chinese launch providers are validating two entirely distinct recovery paradigms in rapid succession.

Overcoming Previous Setbacks and Targeting Near-Term Re-Flight

During the maiden flight of the Zhuque-3 Yao-1 in December 2025, the rocket successfully reached orbit, but its first stage suffered abnormal combustion during the final landing-burn phase roughly 3.3 kilometers above the ground, forcing it to crash near the edge of the landing zone, as reported by 36Kr Japan. LandSpace engineers resolved those anomalies within eight months to secure the Yao-2 victory.

With the landing hardware proven, LandSpace plans to execute a re-flight test using the recovered first stage within the next six months, aiming to validate a complete operational cycle of launch, recovery, inspection, and reuse. Concurrently, the company is advancing through the final inquiry rounds of its initial public offering (IPO) review on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s STAR Market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What payload did the Zhuque-3 Yao-2 carry into orbit?

The rocket successfully deployed the Honghu-03 satellite into its planned orbit.

Where did the first stage land?

The first stage landed softly at the designated Zhuque-3 landing site located in Minqin County, Gansu Province.

How does the Zhuque-3 differ from older rocket designs?

The Zhuque-3 is a next-generation reusable vehicle featuring a primary stainless steel structure, liquid oxygen and methane engines, grid fins, and landing legs designed for vertical ground recovery.