On December 3, 2025 Beijing time, the Zhuque-3 Yao-1 carrier rocket was launched into space from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Experimental Zone, completing the flight mission according to the procedure, and the rocket's second stage entered the predetermined orbit.
Zhuque-3 is a new generation low-cost, high-capacity, high-frequency, reusable liquid oxygen methane carrier rocket independently developed by Blue Arrow Aerospace for large-scale constellation networking missions. The Zhuque-3 Yao-1 carrier rocket adopts a single core two-stage series configuration, with a first and second stage body diameter of 4.5 meters, a fairing diameter of 5.2 meters, a total length of 66.1 meters, a takeoff mass of about 560 tons, and a takeoff thrust of 7542 kN. The power system is based on the Tianque series liquid oxygen methane engine independently developed by Blue Arrow Aerospace, and the first stage uses nine Tianque 12A engines in parallel; The second stage adopts a Tianque 15A vacuum engine. After interstage separation, the first sub stage of Suzaku III can conduct vertical return soft landing. It is designed to be reused no less than 20 times. When the navigation area is mature, the low Earth orbit carrying capacity is no less than 18 tons. It has the ability to deploy one rocket and multiple satellites in the Internet constellation, which will provide strong transportation support for the national major aerospace project and satellite Internet launch networking.
During the flight process of this mission, key actions such as rocket takeoff, first and second stage separation, second stage engine start-up, fairing separation, second stage engine shutdown, second stage taxiing, and second stage engine start-up were all completed as planned, demonstrating stable and reliable performance. At the same time, this mission conducted flight validation of a sub level vertical recovery technology. According to flight measurement data, there was an abnormality in the ignition of the first stage of the rocket during the landing phase, which prevented a soft landing at the recovery site. The debris landed at the edge of the recovery site, and the recovery test failed. The specific cause is being further investigated.
The technological breakthroughs achieved in this mission:
1、 For the first time in China, a reusable liquid oxygen methane carrier rocket with a completely new overall layout has been launched into orbit. Breaking through the key technologies of multi-disciplinary coupling design such as power, aerodynamics, flight control, and structure, the first level innovation adopts the overall layout of fuel tank on top/oxygen tank on bottom and the aerodynamic layout with typical features of symmetrical wing strips, P-type local swept grid rudder, and streamlined landing leg outer cover, which can effectively reduce the consumption of propellant during the return process and improve the carrying capacity under repeated use mode.
2、 For the first time in China, the integrated application of a nine machine parallel liquid oxygen methane power system has been achieved, breaking through the technology of stable and reliable transportation of high flow propellants, meeting the requirements of multiple engine starts and depth variable thrust under complex profiles of the entire mission, and achieving effective management and reliable sinking of low-temperature propellants under the condition of weightlessness and large attitude maneuvering in the sliding section; Solved the problem of easy freezing of methane during fully subcooled injection, and achieved high flow fully subcooled injection 2 hours before injection.
3、 We have pioneered a new high-strength stainless steel/high-performance laser welding material and process system for storage tanks in China. We have independently developed a complete set of stainless steel storage tank laser welding process equipment and production lines, achieving a significant 80% reduction in the manufacturing cost of large-diameter ultra-thin wall stainless steel storage tanks compared to aluminum alloys, and a 40% reduction in production cycle.
4、 The flight verification of high-precision return navigation, guidance, and control technology for reusable launch vehicles at the orbital stage has been achieved for the first time in China. Breaking through complex constraints, large-scale state changes, online trajectory optimization in highly uncertain environments, attitude stability, and high-precision control technology.
5、 For the first time in China, the design and application of a hybrid redundant distributed integrated electronic system for reusable launch vehicles have been achieved, constructing an open system that integrates control, measurement, and health management for services. A high bandwidth and high reliability real-time communication platform based on high-speed Powerlink real-time Ethernet, with a communication speed of over 100Mbps, which is a hundred times faster than the traditional rocket 1553B. Developing a high computing power return control computer using advanced and highly reliable computing platforms in automotive electronics, with a computing power increase of more than 10 times compared to traditional launch vehicles, creating a new quality of productivity that integrates rocket avionics systems with high-end advanced manufacturing.
This mission verified the correctness and rationality of the testing, launch, and flight process plan of the Zhuque-3 carrier rocket, the compatibility of various system interfaces, and obtained key engineering data under the real flight state of the rocket, laying an important foundation for optimizing the design of subsequent models, improving overall reliability, and achieving sub stage recovery and reuse. The model team will conduct a comprehensive review and technical improvement of the experimental process as soon as possible based on the valuable data and experience obtained from this task, optimize the recovery plan, and continue to promote the validation and application of reusable rocket technology in subsequent tasks. In the future, as the low orbit constellation network enters its peak period, Zhuque-3 will continue to iterate, achieving technological breakthroughs from recycling and reuse to flight based operations for normalized reuse and launch.
