China's LandSpace fails to complete reusable rocket test

LandSpace conducting the debut flight of its ZQ 3, or Rosefinch 3, carrier rocket in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Dec 3, 2025. - Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn

BEIJING: LandSpace's next-generation Zhuque-3 rocket ended in failure on Wednesday (Dec 3), dashing the Chinese firm's hopes of becoming the third company after Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin to successfully test a reusable spacecraft.

The rocket was not able to complete a controlled landing following an initial launch, state news agency Xinhua reported.