What are the highlights of this test drive? What are the similarities between Tianlong-3 and Falcon 9? What positive impact will this test run have on China\u2019s commercial aerospace development?<\/p>\n
Today let\u2019s talk about: Tianlong 3\u2019s first stage was successfully tested, and the first flight of the \u201cChinese version of Falcon 9\u201d is about to begin. <\/p>\n
01<\/p>\n
Tianlong-3 first-level test run<\/p>\n
On September 15, 2025, Beijing time, Tianbing Technology completed the test run of the first-stage power system of its self-developed Tianlong 3 rocket at the Dongfang Spaceport in Haiyang, Shandong. The first-stage rocket was equipped with 9 Tianhuo 12 liquid oxygen kerosene engines self-developed by Tianbing Technology. The maximum thrust of the test reached 840 tons. It is my country’s third large-scale rocket first-stage power system test run in 2025 after the Zhuque 3 first stage and the Long March 10 first stage. This test run comprehensively simulated the ground test and launch process, covering the entire process including propellant filling, multi-stage batch ignition, stable operation and programmed shutdown. Next, let\u2019s talk about some highlights of this test drive in detail. The first is the nine Tianhuo 12 liquid oxygen kerosene engines that require the most attention. As the key to this test run, 90% of the components of the nine Tianhuo 12 engines were integrated 3D printed and manufactured, which greatly reduced the complexity of the engine structure, reduced the weight of the engine, and saved precious thrust for the payload. Therefore, the Tianhuo 12 is also the open-type kerosene engine with the largest thrust-to-weight ratio in China, with a thrust-to-weight ratio of 163:1. Secondly, compared with the last test run, the Tianlong 3 sub-stage has also carried out extensive optimization of the rocket body structure. The multi-machine parallel structure at the engine tail adopts one-piece molding technology and honeycomb design, which effectively improves the structural strength of the engine tail end while also reducing the structural quality. Finally, the 3.8-meter-diameter Tianlong-3 rocket reaches a height of 72 meters. It is currently the rocket with the largest slenderness ratio in China and requires extremely high stability control of the entire rocket. Therefore, Tianlong 3 is also the first domestic launch vehicle to adopt a triple-redundant rocket-borne computer control system. <\/p>\n
02<\/p>\n
China\u2019s version of Falcon 9 is about to set sail<\/p>\n
Tianlong 3 is also the most Falcon 9-like rocket in China. In terms of rocket design, both rockets use an aluminum-lithium alloy rocket body structure + a nine-machine parallel first-stage power system. The second stage uses a vacuum version of the first-stage engine, and the landing method also adopts the landing leg method. In terms of parameters, Tianlong 3 has a diameter of 3.8 meters, a total arrow length of 72 meters, a take-off thrust of 840 tons, a one-time LEO transport capacity of 22 tons, and a recovery transport capacity of 17 tons; Falcon 9 has a diameter of 3.8 meters, a total arrow length of 70 meters, a take-off thrust of 776 tons, a one-time LEO transport capacity of 22.8 tons, and a recovery transport capacity of 17.5 tons. The two are almost identical in size, thrust, capacity and other aspects. The reason why Tianlong 3 can be close to Falcon 9 in all aspects is that its first-stage main engine has achieved performance that is almost the same as that of Merlin 1D. Both Tianhuo 12 and Merlin 1D use liquid oxygen kerosene as the power source, and both use a gas generator cycle in the circulation structure, which is commonly known as an open cycle. The sea level thrust of the two is respectively 93 tons for Tianhuo 12 and 92 tons for Merlin 1D. Although the thrust performance is similar, the real gap between Tianhuo 12 and Merlin 1D is reflected in the specific impulse and thrust-to-weight ratio. The Skyfire 12 has a specific impulse of 285S and a thrust-to-weight ratio of 163. The Merlin 1D++, which has gone through countless iterations and optimizations, has a specific impulse of 290S and an astonishing thrust-to-weight ratio of 180. It is believed that as Tianlong-3 becomes a regular flight, these parameters will also equal or even surpass Merlin 1D as the engine structure continues to be optimized. <\/p>\n
03<\/p>\n
The main force of future constellation networking<\/p>\n
At the beginning of this year, NiHaoSpace counted 9 recyclable rockets that will fly for the first time this year, including Tianlong 3, Zhuque 3, Lijian 2, Long March 12A, Gravity 2, Hyperbola 3, Nebula 1, Pallas 1 and Yuanxingzhe 1. However, based on actual progress, the only four models left that can catch up with the first flight within the year are Tianlong 3, Zhuque 3, Lijian 2 and Long March 12A. In the previous article “The “Star Network” is soaring, the most injured one is the Yuanxin satellite.” We mentioned: In August 2025, the Star Network launched 6 times in a row and put 47 satellites into orbit in 27 days, using almost all domestic rockets that can participate in the construction of large-scale constellation networks; while the Star Network was soaring and maintaining frequency and orbit, it was the Yuanxin satellite that was hit by insufficient transportation capacity and had to press the pause button. In 2025, Yuanxin Satellite will bid twice for Qianfan constellation launch missions. Among them, the first\/second round of bidding plan in February planned to purchase 9 “18 satellites with one rocket”, which required the rocket’s 800-kilometer near-polar orbit carrying capacity to be no less than 4.5 tons and a successful flight record. In the end, all ended in rejection. <\/p>\n
In July, Yuan Xin issued another bidding announcement. This time the bidding was downgraded and split into Bao 1 with 4 times of “10 stars per arrow” and Bao 2 with 3 times of “18 stars with one arrow”. Bao 2 even allows new models that will make their first flight before the end of the year to participate. But in the end, Bao Yi still experienced two failed bids. Only three rockets that are about to fly for the first time this year, including Tianlong Technology\u2019s Tianlong 3, were shortlisted for Bao Yi.<\/p>\n
Whether it is Yuanxin or Xingwang, the entire construction of China’s satellite Internet constellation suffers from the lack of “large capacity, low-cost” networking rockets, which has directly led to the current slow development of China’s commercial aerospace. The successful test run of the Tianlong-3 first stage is an inspiration to the entire commercial aerospace industry in China.<\/p>\n
The successful Tianlong-3 first-stage test run marks a solid step that my country has taken towards the first flight of a recyclable high-capacity rocket. With the follow-up regular flights of Tianlong-3, giant constellations such as Qianfan and State Grid will release huge market demand, leading the entire commercial aerospace industry to enter a stage of rapid development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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