Flight 2 on Zhuque-3 — launch time & how to watch

What is launching?

LandSpace's Zhuque-3 rocket is scheduled to fly its second mission (Flight 2) on 31 August 2026 from Launch Area 96B at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the People's Republic of China. Zhuque-3 is a stainless-steel, methane-fueled, two-stage rocket designed with a reusable first stage, making it China's most direct commercial answer to SpaceX's Falcon 9.

The Zhuque-3 ("Vermilion Bird 3") is developed by Beijing-based private launch company LandSpace, which in 2023 became the first company in the world to reach orbit with a methane-liquid-oxygen (methalox) rocket, the smaller Zhuque-2.

When is the launch?

The launch is targeted for 00:00 UTC on 31 August 2026. The status is currently listed as TBD, so the exact liftoff time may shift as LandSpace finalizes the launch window and vehicle readiness.

What is Zhuque-3?

Zhuque-3 is a large, partially reusable orbital rocket. Its structure uses stainless steel rather than aluminium or carbon composite, the same material choice SpaceX made for Starship, and it is powered by LandSpace's own Tianque methalox engines. The vehicle stands roughly 66 meters tall in its baseline configuration and is designed to land its first stage back on the ground for reuse.

According to LandSpace, Zhuque-3 is targeted to deliver on the order of 21 tonnes to low Earth orbit in expendable mode and around 18 tonnes when the booster is recovered, placing it in the medium-to-heavy lift class alongside Falcon 9. The methalox propellant combination burns cleanly and is well suited to engine reuse, which is central to LandSpace's cost-reduction strategy.

Why Flight 2 matters

Flight 2 is a key step in proving Zhuque-3 as an operational, reusable workhorse. LandSpace is one of a handful of Chinese commercial firms racing to field a recoverable rocket, and success here strengthens the case for the vehicle to carry future commercial and megaconstellation payloads. China is building out several large satellite networks that will require frequent, low-cost heavy launches, and reusable rockets like Zhuque-3 are intended to meet that demand.

Where is it launching from?

The mission lifts off from Launch Area 96B at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert of northwestern China. Jiuquan is China's oldest and most-used launch base, established in 1958, and has become the primary home for the country's commercial launch providers, including LandSpace.

How to watch live

LandSpace and Chinese state media typically release footage of major commercial launches, though timing and availability can vary and are not always confirmed in advance for TBD missions. Because the launch window is not yet locked, the best approach is to keep an eye on the schedule and set an alert.

• Follow the countdown and live vehicle position on the Cosmik 3D solar-system and satellite map.
• Check the full rocket launch schedule for time updates.
• See the latest updates on our launch news feed.

About LandSpace

Founded in 2015, LandSpace is one of the pioneers of China's commercial spaceflight sector. Its Zhuque-2 rocket reached orbit in July 2023, the first methalox rocket in the world to do so. Zhuque-3 represents the company's move into the reusable, higher-capacity market, closely mirroring the reusability model that transformed launch economics globally.

You can read more about the company, the rocket family, and the spaceport at these references:

• Zhuque-3 (Wikipedia)
• LandSpace (Wikipedia)
• Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (Wikipedia)
• The Space Devs Launch Library (data source)

Track it live on Cosmik

Don't miss liftoff. Follow Zhuque-3 Flight 2 and every satellite it deploys in real time on the Cosmik live 3D map, browse the full launch calendar, and enable free launch alerts so you're notified the moment the countdown updates.