LandSpace bets on Aug. 10 for Zhuque-3 orbital booster landing

China’s LandSpace is targeting Aug. 10 for a fourth attempt to recover the Zhuque-3 orbital booster from Jiuquan spaceport. After its 2025 debut, which reached orbit but saw the first stage explode on descent, a June 29 static-fire test validated the vehicle ahead of flight. Zhuque-3 is a 66-meter methane–oxygen rocket capable of delivering about 18,300 kg to LEO, and the mission will pursue a powered descent and landing similar to Falcon 9, continuing China’s evolving rocket-reusability efforts alongside other booster tests like Long March 10B/12A.