Zhuque-3 Y2 Rocket Scheduled for August 11 Launch, Challenging First Stage Recovery
Summary: LandSpaces Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket is confirmed for launch on August 11, 2026, to once again challenge the first stage landing leg recovery method.
According to official information from LandSpace, the second flight mission (Y2) of its Zhuque-3 reusable liquid oxygen-methane launch vehicle has been officially scheduled for a launch window on August 11, 2026. The core objective of this mission is to re-validate and challenge the vertical recovery technology for the first stage, particularly the landing leg deployment and cushioned landing scheme.
The Zhuque-3 rocket is a large launch vehicle designed by the Chinese private aerospace company LandSpace for reusability. Its first stage is equipped with grid fins and landing legs, aiming to achieve autonomous return and vertical landing at a designated recovery site after launch. This Y2 mission represents another critical technology verification following the Y1 flight test, accumulating valuable data for the future realization of regular, low-cost recovery and reuse.
The mission team is conducting final pre-launch preparations at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Specific payload information and mission details for this launch are expected to be further announced by LandSpace ahead of the launch. The industry is widely watching whether this recovery attempt will succeed, which would mark a significant step for China's commercial space sector on the path to reusable rocket technology.