China's methane-powered reusable rocket Zhuque-3 expected to make maiden flight in 2025

Private Chinese Company Land Space released details about its Zhuque-3 methane and liquid oxygen-powered reusable rocket, which is expected to be ready for its maiden flight in 2025.

The carrier rocket, which will be China's first rocket made of stainless steel, is 4.5 meters in diameter, with a total length of 76.6 meters. Its liftoff weight is about 660 tonnes, with a carrying capacity of 21.3 tonnes.

It will use Tianque methane engines developed by Land Space, which is headquartered in Beijing. Its first stage will have nine Tianque-12B engines, which can be reused up to 20 times.