Tianlong-3 by Space Pioneer: status and timeline

Tianlong-3

A two-stage reusable launcher with nine TH-12 kerolox engines. Payload capacity: 17 tonnes to LEO, 14 tonnes to sun-synchronous orbit.

ProtoStage 2 of 5

Maiden flight failed Apr 3, 2026, 33s into ascent from engine-section anomaly. Second vehicle near completion.

Updated 3 Apr 2026Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Second Tianlong-3 flight

First engine hot-fire testApr 2020Complete.
Series C funding securedJul 2023Complete.
First static fire test (unintended launch due to structural failure)30 Jun 2024Complete.
Successful static fire of first stage15 Sep 2025Complete.
Maiden flight attempt3 Apr 2026Complete.
Second Tianlong-3 flightTarget Q4 2026Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

Q4 2026Second Tianlong-3 flight (next)

Current obstacles

Structural failure in hold-down systemsJune 2024: first stage detached from test stand. Hold-down arms and structure strengthened. Unproven designs carry risk.
Engine section anomaliesThe April 2026 flight failed in the engine bay. Root-cause diagnosis and fix are critical before the next attempt.

Physics limits

Nine-engine combustion instabilityLarge engine clusters can develop longitudinal oscillations called 'pogo' or 'coupling.' Preventing and damping these instabilities becomes harder as the cluster grows.
Kerolox density-specific-impulse tradeKerolox has lower specific impulse than methane or hydrogen. To match a hydrogen-fueled competitor's payload, a kerolox vehicle must be heavier, reducing efficiency.

How it works

3 parts

Nine-engine first stage

Redundant kerolox cluster

Nine TH-12 kerosene-and-oxygen engines provide 820 tonnes of thrust. The cluster allows the vehicle to tolerate one-engine loss.

Booster recovery

Staged separation and landing

The first stage separates, retro-burns with remaining propellant, and deploys parachutes for recovery. This enables booster reflight.

Second stage

Expendable upper stage

The second stage carries payload and is currently expendable. Future missions may recover it. This approach matches Falcon 9.

Spec sheet

Spec	Tianlong-3
Vehicle height	71 m^R (reported)
Liftoff mass	590 t^R (reported)
First-stage engines	9× TH-12^R (reported)
LEO payload capacity	~17 t^R (reported)
Sun-synchronous orbit payload	~14 t^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Peer comparison

Launch peers

Spec	Tianlong-3	Rocket Factory Augsburg RFA One
Vehicle height	71 m^R (reported)	71 m^R (reported)
Liftoff mass	590 t^R (reported)	590 t^R (reported)
First-stage engines	9× TH-12^R (reported)	9× Helix^R (reported)
LEO payload capacity	~17 t^R (reported)	~17 t^R (reported)
Sun-synchronous orbit payload	~14 t^R (reported)	~14 t^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

7 updates

About Space Pioneer

The team behind Tianlong-3

Space Pioneer

Tianlong-3 reusable rocket, Chinese commercial launcher

Space Pioneer develops Tianlong-3, a two-stage reusable launcher with a 17-tonne LEO payload using kerosene and liquid oxygen. Founded by Kang Yonglai, former CTO of LandSpace.

Tianlong-3 is a 71m tall, 590t launcher with nine kerolox engines for constellation launches and booster recovery.
Maiden flight on April 3, 2026 failed 33s into ascent from an engine-section anomaly. A second vehicle is near completion.
Space Pioneer has raised over $100M USD equivalent, including $30M pre-B in 2021 and a C-round in 2023.

spacepioneer.cc (opens spacepioneer.cc)Company profile →

Founded: 20197 yrs
Headquarters: China
Status: Private
Valuation: private
Raised: $44M2 rounds
Last round: Pre-B · $30MJul 2021
Works in: SpaceflightLaunch
Coverage: 1 program · 7 updateslatest 3 Apr 2026checked 10 Oct
Partners: Zhejiang University (opens zju.edu.cn)
People: Kang Yonglai (opens spacepioneer.cc)Founder and Chief Technology Officer

Spec

Tianlong-3

Vehicle height

71 m^R (reported)

Liftoff mass

590 t^R (reported)

First-stage engines

9× TH-12^R (reported)

LEO payload capacity

~17 t^R (reported)

Sun-synchronous orbit payload

~14 t^R (reported)

Spec

Tianlong-3

Rocket Factory Augsburg RFA One

Vehicle height

71 m^R (reported)

Liftoff mass

590 t^R (reported)

First-stage engines

9× TH-12^R (reported)

9× Helix^R (reported)

LEO payload capacity

~17 t^R (reported)

Sun-synchronous orbit payload

~14 t^R (reported)

Tianlong-3

Milestones

Most important updates

Upcoming

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Redundant kerolox cluster

Staged separation and landing

Expendable upper stage

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Fri 3 Apr

Mon 15 Sep 2025

Sun 30 Jun 2024

Jul 2023

Jul 2021

Apr 2020

2019

About Space Pioneer

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Redundant kerolox cluster

Staged separation and landing

Expendable upper stage

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Fri 3 Apr

Mon 15 Sep 2025

Sun 30 Jun 2024

Jul 2023

Jul 2021

Apr 2020

2019

About Space Pioneer