--- title: "China to attempt Falcon 9 analog landing again: Zhuque-3 rocket launches on August 11" description: "🚀 Chinese company LandSpace is preparing to launch the ZhuQue-3 rocket on August 11, 2026. This is the second attempt to land the first stage after an explosion in December 2025. The Falcon 9 analog rocket will launch from the Jiuquan spaceport. 🇨🇳🛰️" date: 2026-08-09T13:36:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/china-to-attempt-falcon-9-analog-landing-again-zhuque-3-rocket-launches-on-august-11 tags: [china-space, landspace, zhuque-3, reusable-rockets, space-industry] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # China to attempt Falcon 9 analog landing again: Zhuque-3 rocket launches on August 11 ![Test launch of the Zhuque-3 rocket engine at a desert test site](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/09/kitaj-snov-popytaetsya-posadit-analog-falcon-9-raketa-zhuque-3-startuet-11-avgusta/kitaj-snov-popytaetsya-posadit-analog-falcon-9-raketa-zhuque-3-startuet-11-avgusta-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The launch of ZhuQue-3 Y2 is scheduled for August 11, 2026 (2:45 MSK). - This is the second attempt to land the first stage after a failure in December 2025. - The rocket uses methane engines and competes with Falcon 9. - China has already achieved success in landing a stage with the Long March 10B rocket in July 2026. On August 9, 2026, Chinese private space company LandSpace is preparing for a decisive stage in the development of domestic reusable rocket technologies. At 19:45 Eastern Time (2:45 MSK on August 11), the ZhuQue-3 Y2 carrier rocket is scheduled to launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwest of the country. This will be the company's second attempt not only to deliver a payload to orbit but also to successfully return the rocket's first stage to the landing pad. ### The path to success: from explosion to static tests The history of ZhuQue-3 began with an ambiguous result. In December 2025, the first launch of this rocket became a significant milestone: the second stage successfully reached orbit, however, the attempt to land the first stage softly ended in an explosion during the final descent. Despite the failure regarding the return, the flight proved the operability of the main engine systems and the structure. During the preparation for the relaunch, the company conducted thorough work to correct errors. On June 29, 2026, LandSpace successfully conducted static fire tests of the booster. In an official statement, the company reported that all systems operated in normal mode, and the data obtained confirmed the coordination of all units, laying a solid foundation for the upcoming flight. ### Technical specifications and ambitions The ZhuQue-3 carrier rocket is a 66-meter structure equipped with methane-oxygen engines. In terms of its characteristics, it is a direct competitor to SpaceX's famous Falcon 9. The carrier is capable of delivering a payload weighing up to 18,300 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO). Successful implementation of the first stage return program will allow LandSpace to significantly reduce the cost of launching cargo into space and take a leading position in both the domestic and global markets. ### Space race context: experience of other Chinese rockets The launch on August 11 will be China's fourth attempt to safely return a spent first stage of an orbital class. Previous tests have shown that the path to reusability is thorny. Immediately after the failure of ZhuQue-3 in December 2025, the debut of the Long March 12A rocket also ended with the ignition of the first stage during the return attempt. However, a breakthrough occurred on July 10, 2026, when the Long March 10B carrier rocket successfully returned its stage using a special device equipped with a net capture system. This event made China the second country in the world to master the technology of landing orbital boosters. Now LandSpace aims to repeat this success using its own leg-landing technology. ### Contradictory data During fact-checking, discrepancies were identified in the planned launch dates across various sources. While current reports from August 9, 2026, and LandSpace's official statement indicate a launch on August 10 (local time), earlier reports (e.g., from February 2026) mentioned plans for the "second quarter of 2026." This indicates that the schedule of tests and launches in the Chinese private space industry was subject to adjustments throughout the year, likely due to the need to refine systems following the first stage explosion in December 2025. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [China’s LandSpace completes key test for reusable Zhuque-3 rocket](https://www.aa.com.tr/en/science-technology/china-s-landspace-completes-key-test-for-reusable-zhuque-3-rocket/3982342) - Подтверждает успешные статические испытания и подготовку к запуску. - [Landspace to attempt 2nd Zhuque-3 booster landing August 10 2026](https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/landspace-to-attempt-2nd-zhuque-3-booster-landing-august-10-2026/tldr) - Подтверждает дату запуска 10 августа 2026 года. - [Китай планирует второй запуск и возвращение ракеты-носителя Zhuque-3 на орбиту во втором квартале](https://overclockers.ru/blog/kosmos_news/show/250283/Kitaj-planiruet-vtoroj-zapusk-i-vozvraschenie-rakety-nositelya-Zhuque-3-na-orbitu-vo-vtorom-kvartale) - Подтверждено по источнику overclockers.ru - [China’s LandSpace plans more recovery test launches of its Zhuque-3 reusable rocket in Q2 of 2026: company](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1355701.shtml?id=11) - Подтверждено по источнику globaltimes.cn ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: When will the ZhuQue-3 rocket launch take place? **A:** The launch is scheduled for August 10, 2026, at 19:45 Eastern Time (2:45 MSK on August 11). ### Q: Why is this launch considered important? **A:** This is LandSpace's second attempt to land the first stage of the rocket after an explosion in December 2025. ### Q: Which rocket has already successfully returned in China? **A:** The Long March 10B rocket successfully returned its stage on July 10, 2026, using a capture system.