Overview
- LandSpace told the UN COPUOS meeting it is optimizing Zhuque-3’s landing sequence and will attempt another first-stage recovery test in Q2 2026, with a first reuse attempt targeted for Q4 subject to test results.
- The December 3, 2025 maiden flight placed Zhuque-3’s second stage into orbit, while the first stage failed a soft landing after an anomalous final ignition during the vertical recovery trial.
- Engineering disclosures highlighted a nine-engine LOX–methane cluster, high-strength stainless-steel tanks with laser welding, non-pyrotechnic stage separation, and high-precision return guidance and control.
- CAS Space is reportedly planning the maiden flight of its reusable Lijian-2 in late March 2026 carrying a Qingzhou-1 cargo craft prototype, with a 2026 program that includes at least eight Lijian-1 solid-rocket launches—two at sea—and a total of about 13 missions filed with regulators.
- Delegates in Vienna focused on China’s reuse progress, follow-on plans, and measures for controlled reentry and debris mitigation during discussions on sustainable space operations.