China’s Space Pioneer pushes towards launch despite static-fire debacle

Chinese commercial launch firm Space Pioneer appears to be moving towards a first launch of its Tianlong-3 rocket despite a disastrous static-fire test in June. Space Pioneer suffered a serious setback in its plans to debut the Tianlong-3 kerosene-liquid oxygen rocket later this year following a static-fire test anomaly June 30. That test saw the first stage escape its test bench and climb into the sky before falling to the ground and exploding. The explosion occurred on a mountainside but was perilously close to inhabited areas, leading to the event being filmed by bystanders. The company was conducting its test as a buildup to an orbital launch of the Tianlong-3, which is benchmarked against the SpaceX Falcon 9. The incident drew widespread attention and no little criticism within China. Space Pioneer initially released a short report on the incident the same day. However, it did not apologize for the event until July 2. Meanwhile, Space Pioneer appears to be proceeding with its plans. Chinese social media posts on July 30 showed a pathfinder article erected at an undisclosed location.

An assembled Tianlong-3 first stage. Credit: Space Pioneer

The test model will be used for integration testing, and procedures required for handling, transporting and erecting a flight rocket.

It is however unclear how Space Pioneer will be able to proceed from this point to an orbital launch attempt. Not only did the company lose its intended flight hardware, but may face regulatory hurdles.

A July 4 post from state media Xinhua on the incident noted that, “the process of climbing to the top of the science and technology industry is not a smooth journey. It is inevitable that there will be setbacks or even failures.” However, a full health check of the commercial sector and assessment and approval processes were mooted.

China opened its space sector to private capital in late 2014 and now boasts around 20 companies focused on launch. Space Pioneer notably became the first Chinese commercial launch company to reach orbit with a liquid propellant rocket with its Tianlong-2 in 2023.

It so far remains unclear if the Space Pioneer incident will significantly slow the company or its competitors. Earlier this year China’s central government designated commercial space as a key industry for support. Reusable medium-lift launchers are also needed to deploy China’s planned low Earth orbit communications megaconstellations.

Competitors Landspace and Deep Blue Aerospace are understood to be preparing for their next vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) tests. These will be for their respective Zhuque-3 and Nebula-1 orbital rockets.

Landspace is all set to follow up its first, 350-meter-altitude VTVL test, conducted in January, with a higher altitude test in August. The new Zhuque-3 test article appears to include grid fins which were absent on the first hop test.

Deep Blue Aerospace is meanwhile preparing for potentially a full duration first stage flight and recovery test. The company aims to carry out its first orbital Nebula-1 launch before the end of the year. China’s highest altitude hop test so far is 12 kilometers, set by state-owned SAST in June.

The Nebula-1 rocket will initially be capable of carrying 2,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit (LEO). It aims to become China’s first reusable orbital rocket.