China's Landspace launched its Zhuque-3 rocket on December 2, 2025, marking the country's first attempt at a reusable rocket. The 216-foot, methane-liquid-oxygen-powered rocket successfully placed its second stage into orbit. However, during the landing burn, the first stage booster lost an engine, resulting in a fiery explosion upon impact. Landspace reported that there were no safety issues for personnel and is currently investigating the cause of the anomaly. Despite the dramatic failure during the landing, Landspace considers the flight a success. The company highlighted that it met several key technical objectives, including testing the recovery system and engine throttling. The first stage landed within meters of its intended recovery zone, underscoring the precision of the operation. Zhuque-3 shares similarities with SpaceX's Falcon 9, featuring a reusable first stage and an expendable upper stage, but uses a different fuel mixture. Its payload capacity to low Earth orbit is comparable, capable of lifting 40,350 pounds, while Falcon 9 can handle 50,265 pounds. Landspace previously achieved a milestone with its Zhuque-2 rocket, the first methane-powered rocket to reach orbit in July 2023. The Zhuque rockets draw their name from a mythological vermillion bird, symbolizing fire in Taoist cosmology.