Zhang Changwu shares details on Zhuque-3, Hainan prepares for mass production
LandSpace's CEO has revealed information about the Zhuque-3 rocket, while work on additional launches and satellites is underway in Hainan.
Recently Zhang Changwu, LandSpace’s Founder and CEO, gave an interview to Lu Jian as part of his CCTV4 show, revealing details about Zhuque-3 and the company’s goals with the vehicle and for the future. Other news had a satellite ‘super factory’ being constructed in Hainan and Tianlong-3 possibly preparing for its debut flight.
LandSpace’s Zhang Changwu interview with CCTV4
LandSpace’s Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Zhang Changwu (张昌武), was interviewed by CCTV4 for their program Talk with Lu Jian: Dialogue with Zhang Changwu, which is hosted by Lu Jian (鲁健). CCTV4’s description of this episode is: The cost of a small launch vehicle is between 30 million and 150 million yuan [4.1 million to 20.6 million United States Dollars as of December 6th]. If we want to vigorously promote the commercialization of aerospace, reducing launch costs and promoting the reusability of rockets has become an inevitable trend. Currently, most companies focus their research and development on the reuse of first-stage rockets. China's LandSpace has developed Zhuque-3, which is expected to be launched in the second half of 2025 and is expected to be China's first reusable launch vehicle. However many things about LandSpace and their efforts on Zhuque-3 were discussed.
The video embedded above was uploaded to YouTube for archival and reference on the Western internet, it has not been altered in any major way.
Zhuque-3
The first thing the two discussed was the manufacturing of Zhuque-3. Regarding manufacturing, it was stated that LandSpace manufactures over sixty percent of its needed components, including those for subsystems. LandSpace has even included 3D printing into its production process for an end-to-end solution from design to integration.
The conversation quickly moved onto LandSpace’s Tianque (天鹊), or TQ, rocket engine series, for which LandSpace had to develop their own test stands. It was highlighted that developing the stands internally allows for greater quality control as an engine goes through assembly, installation, debugging, and ignition in just four days. Tests on the stands can verify multiple ignitions and variable thrust adjustments while ensuring the engine performs stably within vibration, temperature, and pressure limits.
For the decision to make much of Zhuque-3 out of stainless steel, Zhang stated that they chose the material due to it outperforming aluminum alloys when reflown multiple times. It was also said that aluminum alloys waste over 90% of the material during processing, which can cause costs to balloon. As such steel is a high-strength low-cost material for reusable rockets.
Comparisons to SpaceX
When pushed about comparisons to SpaceX, Zhang acknowledged the gap between LandSpace and SpaceX but also brought up that understanding the gap helps the team pinpoint critical breakthroughs and accelerate progress on Zhuque-3. It was added that achieving high-frequency launches with reusable rockets would mark a significant technological milestone for both LandSpace and China.
Regarding the cost per kilogram of Falcon 9, Zhang said that SpaceX can offer its launch service at approximately 2,000 United States Dollars per kilogram, roughly 35 million per launch with a drone ship landing. Zhang is confident that within three years of Zhuque-3’s debut mission, they will lower costs to 30,000 Renminbi (4,120 United States Dollars) per kilogram, allowing launches to cost 549 million Renminbi (75.2 million United States Dollars), assuming first-stage downrange landings. In the future, Zhang hopes that they can reduce the cost further to 3,000 Renminbi (410 United States Dollars) per kilogram, for a launch cost of 54.9 Renminbi (7.55 million United States Dollars).
Future Prospects
While wrapping up the interview, Zhang highlights that LandSpace is being brought into national space missions, particularly for launching the satellite internet mega-constellation. It was also stated that LandSpace will begin launching cargo missions to the Tiangong Space Station in 2026, possibly the Haolong-1 cargo spaceplane.
For a vehicle after Zhuque-3, Zhang stated that the company is working on the BF-20 full-flow staged combustion liquid methane liquid oxygen engine with a targeted thrust of 200 tons. This engine will power a currently unnamed fully reusable rocket, which LandSpace has been studying, but not actively developing, for several months if not years. LandSpace hopes to have this fully reusable rocket flying around 2030.
Hainan satellite super factory to open in June 2025
Hainan Wenchang International Space City Investment and Development Co Ltd (海南文昌国际航天城投资开发有限责任公司) announced on December 6th that construction of a satellite ‘super factory’ and industrial park was progressing smoothly. Recent progress has seen work on the main area of the ‘super factory' begin on December 1st, a groundbreaking ceremony was also held on the same day.
Once complete the industrial park will consist of the satellite ‘super factory’, a test and inspection center, and eight standalone research and development centers. The satellite ‘super factory’ will be the largest building within the industrial park, occupying an area of 60,000 square meters. This gigantic factory will be capable of producing one thousand satellites per year, possibly for China’s various mega-constellation plans.
The satellite ‘super factory’ and the industrial park it is part of are expected to begin manufacturing operations in June 2025, strengthening Hainan’s satellite manufacturing capabilities and diversifying China’s space manufacturing ecosystem.
Tianlong-3 to debut “soon"
In a report by People’s Daily (人民日报) about the success of the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site, the Deputy General Manager, Ma Lei (马磊), of Space Pioneer’s Hainan subsidiary revealed that Tianlong-3 would fly soon from Commercial Launch Pad 2.
Details about when this launch could take place were not stated but Ma Lei said that Space Pioneer’s Hainan facilities are actively under construction along with adding:
“The high launch density and frequency of commercial space launch sites will help rocket research and development enterprises obtain more telemetry data, which will speed up the pace of China's overall rocket development and optimization.”
If there are any problems with this translation please reach out and correct me.
Space Pioneer was thought to have been on its last legs due to external pressures, but activity in the previous month has signified that the company is likely back.