Space Pioneer Targets Falcon 9-Class Launch in 2024
Space Pioneer, a rising force in China’s commercial launch sector, is advancing plans for a heavy-lift rocket with capabilities approaching those of SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Liu Xinglong, chief designer of the Tianlong-3, confirmed that the company is aiming for a test flight in May 2024, according to Shanghai Observer. The two-stage, kerosene-liquid oxygen vehicle is designed with a reusable first stage, marking a significant step toward cost-effective launch operations in China.
The Tianlong-3, or “Sky Dragon-3,” is engineered to deliver 17 metric tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) or 14 metric tons to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). For comparison, the Falcon 9 Full Thrust can carry 22.8 metric tons to LEO in expendable mode. Standing 71 meters tall with a 3.8-meter diameter, the Tianlong-3 has a liftoff mass of 590 tons and generates 770 tons of thrust. The first stage will employ Tianhuo-12 variable thrust engines, each rated at 110 tons of thrust, and is intended to be reused up to 10 times. While the inaugural launch will be expendable, the design philosophy mirrors the reusability focus that has reshaped the economics of space access.
If successful, Tianlong-3 would become China’s second most capable launcher after the Long March 5B, but with greater operational flexibility. Its reusability potential could give China a domestic counterpart to the Falcon 9’s rapid turnaround model, enhancing competitiveness in satellite deployment and commercial missions.
Space Pioneer’s strategy diverges from earlier commercial entrants by moving directly into the large launch vehicle segment. This reflects evolving market dynamics, particularly the opportunity to support China’s Guowang LEO communications megaconstellation. The Guowang project, led by state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is expected to require substantial launch capacity, with CASC scaling production of its Long March 5B and Long March 8 rockets.
Financially, Space Pioneer is well positioned. On February 15, the company announced completion of “B+” and “Pre-C” strategic funding rounds, bringing total investment since its 2018 founding to nearly 3 billion yuan ($438 million). Several investors have ties to state-linked entities, underscoring the strategic interest in expanding China’s commercial launch capabilities.
Beyond Tianlong-3, Space Pioneer has outlined ambitious variants. The Tianlong-3H would feature a triple-core configuration reminiscent of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, while the Tianlong-3M would integrate a reusable spaceplane atop a single core. These concepts signal a broader vision for modular, scalable launch systems.
The company’s credibility was bolstered in April when it became the first Chinese commercial firm to reach orbit with a liquid-propellant rocket. That mission used the Tianlong-2, powered by 85-ton-thrust YF-102 gas generator engines from CASC rather than Space Pioneer’s own Tianhuo series. Notably, the Tianlong-2’s propellant was rocket-grade kerosene derived from coal, developed in collaboration with the 165 Institute of CASC’s Academy of Aerospace Liquid Propulsion Technology. With abundant coal reserves but limited oil resources, China views coal-derived fuel as a strategic asset for its space industry. CASC has stated plans to produce 30,000 tons annually.
Space Pioneer is not alone in pursuing reusability. Landspace, which in December conducted the first launch of a privately developed Chinese liquid-propellant rocket, is preparing for a second flight of its methalox-powered Zhuque-2 from Jiuquan, with reusability as a future goal. Galactic Energy is working toward a 2024 test of its Pallas-1, capable of delivering 5,000 kilograms to LEO, while Deep Blue Aerospace develops the smaller Nebula-1 and iSpace advances the methalox Hyperbola-2.
China’s commercial launch cadence is accelerating. Analysts note that planned launches for 2023 could more than double the 2022 rate. “If the planned launch tempo for 2023 is successful it might represent the opening of capability that would provide momentum to deployment of Chinese small satellite constellations,” said Ian Christensen, director of private sector programs at the Secure World Foundation. This surge complements CASC’s own expansion, with more than 60 launches scheduled this year, up from just 19 in 2015 and 64 orbital missions in 2022.
