The Tianlong-3 large liquid launch vehicle is scheduled to make its first flight in May 2024Kang Yonglai, the founder of Beijing Tianbing Technology Co., Ltd., said that the Tianlong-3 large liquid launch vehicle independently developed by Tianbing Technology is scheduled to make its first flight in May 2024. According to reports, the Tianlong-3 rocket has a diameter of 3.8 meters, a total length of 71 meters, and a total weight of 590 tons. It has a carrying capacity of 17 tons in low-earth orbit. . He pointed out that Tianlong-3, as the first large-scale liquid launch vehicle in the domestic commercial aerospace field, has the characteristics of "high reliability, high performance, low cost, and fast response", and can meet the needs of tens of thousands of domestic Internet communication satellite constellations and thousands of remote sensing satellites. The launch demand of constellations and hundreds of low-orbit navigation satellite constellations will help China's commercial aerospace quickly enter the era of "large-carrier network batch launches" of giant constellations.
Tianlong-3 rocket plans to fly for the first time in May next yearAt the theme forum, Kang Yonglai also mentioned that the Tianlong-3 large-scale liquid launch vehicle independently developed by Tianbing Technology is scheduled to fly for the first time in May 2024. According to reports, the Tianlong-3 rocket has a diameter of 3.8 meters, a total length of 71 meters, and a total weight of 590 tons. It has a carrying capacity of 17 tons in low-earth orbit. .He pointed out that Tianlong-3, as the first large-scale liquid launch vehicle in the domestic commercial aerospace field, has the characteristics of "high reliability, high performance, low cost, and fast response", and can meet the needs of tens of thousands of domestic Internet communication satellite constellations and thousands of remote sensing satellites. The launch demand of constellations and hundreds of low-orbit navigation satellite constellations will help China's commercial aerospace quickly enter the era of "large-carrier network batch launches" of giant constellations.
Beijing private rocket manufacturer Space Pioneer plans to launch the TL 3 carrier rocket for the first time in 2024, making efforts to China's commercial space launch marketBeijing-based private rocket maker Space Pioneer plans to conduct the first launch of its TL 3 launch vehicle in 2024. The company said it hopes the model will become a mainstay in China's commercial space launch market."The development of TL 3 started at the end of 2021. We have completed its design work and started manufacturing some components. The first flight of this model is planned for the first half of 2024 at our own service tower (Jiuquan satellite launch in northwest China) Center),” Kang Yonglai, founder and chairman of Space Pioneer, told China Daily in an exclusive interview.If the launch is successful, Space Pioneer will schedule two more TL 3 launches in the second half of next year, Kang said, mentioning that if all goes according to plan, his company will launch 12 TL 3s in 2025."TL 3 will be able to send spacecraft with a total weight of more than 10 tons into various types of orbits. It is suitable for deploying large satellites or a large number of small satellites on a single mission. The rocket will become a pillar of the country's commercial launch market," Kang said .According to Space Pioneer, TL 3 will have a height of 71 meters and a diameter of 3.8 meters. With a launch weight of 590 tons and a thrust of 770 tons, the rocket will be able to send satellites weighing a total of 14 tons into a typical daily synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers, or spacecraft weighing up to 17 tons into low Earth orbit.The model will eventually come in two variants - TL 3H and TL 3M. The TL 3H will be 88 meters tall and equipped with two side boosters, powerful enough to put a payload of up to 68 tons into low Earth orbit, or 42 tons into a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. TL 3M is a futuristic concept for a rocket-powered intercontinental space plane.As the leader of the country's private space sector, Space Pioneer is the only private company in China to reach orbit using a liquid-fueled rocket -- the company's TL 2 rocket made its maiden flight from the Jiuquan launch center in April.The April mission of TL 2 marked the first time a privately developed liquid-propellant launch vehicle succeeded in its first orbital attempt, enabling powered flight of a vehicle into outer space orbit.Prior to TL 2, all liquid-propellant rocket types developed by private industry, including SpaceX, Virgin Orbit, and China's LandSpace, failed on their first flight attempts.
🔥 SPACE-PIONEER recently completed a long duration hot fire test of TH-12 kerolox engine under the flight conditions of Tianlong-3's 1st launch. With all key technologies passing the tests, the rising star will soon start a batch production of 40 engines.mp.weixin.qq.com/s/i4dCgr6_miHZ…
Tianbing Technology’s large liquid launch vehicle Tianlong 3 invites you to witness its first flightIn April this year, Tianbing Technology's Tianlong 2 made a sensational success with its first flight, leading China's commercial rockets to usher in a new era of liquid rockets.One year later, the Tianlong-3 (TL-3) large liquid launch vehicle, the masterpiece of Tianbing Technology, has made another breakthrough and will challenge for its first flight in June 2024. The Tianlong 3 (TL-3) large liquid launch vehicle is currently one of the largest rockets in China. Its performance is directly comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9. It can be said to be tailor-made for my country's new satellite Internet infrastructure.Tianlong 3 (TL-3) has "super hard core" performance. It has a diameter of 3.8m, a take-off mass of 590t, an SSO capacity of 14t, and a LEO capacity of 17t. Using a high-thrust reusable liquid rocket engine, it is the first to achieve domestic one-rocket multi-satellite group shooting capabilities. Within three years after its first flight, it will have a commercial launch capability of more than 30 launches per year, which will meet the needs of low-cost, high-reliability, and high-frequency commercial launches. Launch market demand has become the backbone of my country's new satellite Internet infrastructure.
I have this one down as targeting 1st stage reuse ... The first image above has landing legs, and the text talks about a "reusable liquid rocket engine," but I guess we don't know when they plan to start doing landing attempts?--- Tony
The target of Tianbing Science and Technology’s first flight in June is Tianlong-3, Yao-2 in September, and Yao-3 in November.First flight and future missions:The first flight batch of the Tianlong-3 rocket's TH-12 engines has successfully completed random inspection and test runs, laying a solid foundation for the first flight in June. The goal in 2024 is to complete the first flight and assemble the Yao-2 and Yao-3 rockets to meet the launch needs of satellite users
Zhao Baofeng, deputy general manager of Tianbing Technology Zhangjiagang Intelligent Manufacturing Base: We have started to return to work and work overtime during the Spring Festival to provide a strong guarantee for the progress of our rocket. We completed the final assembly test of the first-stage rocket in April, and then went to Gongyi to conduct a first-stage full system test run. We completed the secondary assembly in May and then headed to Hainan. In July we will complete the first flight of "Dianlong-3". Compared with the "Dianlong 2" rocket, the "Dianlong 3" rocket has 52 breakthrough innovations, 35 of which have never been used by the "national team". The emergence of "Dianlong-3" will enable us to achieve group shooting capabilities of more than 30 stars with one arrow.
One-year anniversary of the successful first flight of Tianlong 2 and Tianlong 3 is ready for a major sortieAt present, the development and mass production of the Tianlong-3 large liquid launch vehicle are being accelerated. It is planned that the rocket will complete its first flight in July 2024, and will have more than 30 commercial flights per year within three years after its first flight. Launch capability.
Tianlong-3 is scheduled to be launched into orbit for the first time in Jiuquan in May 2025
A notable design update in TL-3’s hold down clamps, which led to the unintended lift-off during static fire. The clamps have been relocated to the bottom of the engine bay, similar to CZ-12 setup, and the number of clamps are doubled. The original design is similar to F9 setup.
天龙三号计划2025年5月酒泉首次商业入轨发射QuoteTianlong-3 is scheduled to be launched into orbit for the first time in Jiuquan in May 2025The Tiankong-3 Maiden will be launched in May, 2025 from Jiuquan, the payloads are three sats from video sound.
According to a post on sinodefenceforum.com, the first launch is now schedule for June 2025.
It is not sure what they mean by "dual launch pad", satellites pictures show a single flame trench.
ROCKET FIRING AND PART OF ROCKET PICKING UP OPERATION -SD336/25来源：烟台海事局 文号：SD336/25 发布时间：2025-05-27 16:05 [字体：大中小]分享到： SD336/25，YELLOW SEA ,FROM 280400 UTC TO 290900 UTC MAY,ROCKET FIRING AND PART OF ROCKET PICKING UP OPERATION BY BEIHAIJIU201 AND HANGSHUN06 IN AREA BOUNDED BY THE LINES JOINING 36-41.49N 121-16.64E,36-41.49N 121-17.32E,36-40.60N 121-17.50E AND 36-40.60N 121-16.48E.ENTERING PROHIBITED. SHANDONG MSA CHINA.test?
New pics of Tianlong-3. They used a piston to push the second stage away when separating.
Steady Progress: Tianlong-3 Nine-Engine Combined Static Test Successfully CompletedThe Tianlong-3 large liquid-fueled launch vehicle by Tianbing Technology (Space Pioneer) has successfully completed its post-review nine-engine combined static test. This test comprehensively validated the structural load-bearing capacity of the nine-engine parallel configuration under the conditions of ground full system hot-fire, launch and flight (including erection, filling, flight, recovery, etc.). The results confirmed the correctness of the design modifications and the effectiveness of the review measures, demonstrating that the structural system meets all operational requirements.As is widely known, the Tianlong-3 is China's most powerful single-core-stage launch vehicle, with a thrust of nearly 900 tons. Under the simultaneous operation of its nine first-stage engines, the rocket generates immense thrust, high startup loads, significant lateral swing forces, and substantial wind-induced (dynamic pressure) bending moments. The design of the rocket's tail structure must account for multiple operational conditions, including ground hold-down release, vertical wind loads, self-weight, flight overloads, and recovery impacts, making it one of the key challenges in large reusable rocket development.The structural weakness in the rocket's aft section was the direct cause of the test failure on June 30 last year.Since the June 30 incident, Tianbing Technology has learned from the failure and adopted a development philosophy of "prioritizing stability while making steady progress." Technically, the company has implemented 127 reliability improvements and enhancements in areas such as structural strength, redundant pressurization and delivery systems, control system fault diagnostics, engine health management, and launch system thermal redundancy. Additionally, 13 new ground verification tests have been introduced, with the goal of making Tianlong-3 the most cost-effective, reliable, and trusted large launch vehicle for customers.On the management front, Tianbing Technology has implemented 258 organizational improvements covering production safety accountability, safety regulations, training, hazard inspections, risk prevention measures, emergency response plans, and employee health. The company has also engaged the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) Safety Assessment Center to conduct comprehensive "Aerospace Industrial Safety Standardization" training and evaluation, ensuring compliance with military-grade aerospace safety standards. The aim is to establish Tianbing as the commercial aerospace enterprise with the highest safety standards and strictest implementation.Tianbing Technology extends its gratitude to the Party Central Committee, the State Council, the China National Space Administration, the Equipment Development Department, the Military Space Force, local governments at all levels, customers, and the broader society for their tolerance and support. All members of Tianbing Technology will thoroughly implement the directive of central leadership to "prioritize safe development and gradually unlock the potential of commercial aerospace," balancing the relationship between progress and safety. With a steadfast commitment to stability and meticulous attention to detail, the company will advance its research and production efforts to make new and greater contributions to China's commercial aerospace industry.
