China’s LandSpace challenges SpaceX in reusable rockets

China’s private rocket company LandSpace is openly drawing inspiration from Elon Musk’s SpaceX as it advances plans for reusable launch vehicles.

Earlier this month, the Beijing-based startup became the first Chinese firm to carry out a reusable rocket test. The trial ended unsuccessfully, but it marked a milestone for the country’s commercial space sector.

LandSpace is now preparing for a public listing to raise funds for future development. The move mirrors discussions at SpaceX about a possible initial public offering.

The test involved LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 rocket. The booster failed to complete a planned landing burn about three kilometers above the ground and crashed instead of making a controlled descent.

Despite the setback, the effort has injected momentum into a space industry long dominated by cautious state-owned companies.

Zhuque-3 chief designer Dai Zheng said SpaceX’s approach to rapid testing and acceptance of failure influenced his decision to leave a major state rocket developer and join LandSpace in 2016.

LandSpace aims to provide China with a low-cost launch option similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9. The capability is expected to support Beijing’s long-term plan to deploy satellite constellations totaling about 10,000 units.

Deputy chief designer Dong Kai said the Falcon 9 design had proven its engineering logic. He described LandSpace’s work as learning from a successful configuration rather than copying it.

State media coverage of recent failed recovery attempts, including one by a state-owned company, signals a shift toward greater tolerance of setbacks in China’s space program.

LandSpace also opened its engine factory to foreign media this month, offering rare access to its manufacturing operations.

China began allowing private investment in space activities in 2014, leading to the emergence of several startups. Authorities are now easing rules to help leading firms tap capital markets.

Musk commented publicly on Zhuque-3’s design in October, noting similarities to Falcon 9 and elements borrowed from SpaceX’s Starship, while adding that Starship remains far more advanced.

LandSpace is preparing another launch following the December failure. SpaceX itself achieved its first successful Falcon booster landing in 2015 after earlier unsuccessful attempts.