On December 3, the ZQ-3 Yao-1 launch vehicle lifted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone, successfully accomplishing its flight mission as the rocket's second stage smoothly entered the preset orbit. This mission also aimed to verify the recovery of the first-stage rocket. However, an abnormal combustion incident occurred during the recovery procedure, which thwarted a soft landing at the designated recovery site, rendering the test unsuccessful. The precise cause is currently under thorough investigation.

Despite falling short of achieving the first-stage rocket recovery objective, this mission confirmed the accuracy and soundness of the ZQ-3 launch vehicle's design throughout the testing, launch, and flight phases, as well as the seamless integration of interfaces among various systems. Furthermore, it gathered crucial engineering data on the rocket's performance under actual flight conditions, establishing a solid foundation for upcoming launch services and the dependable recovery and reuse of sub-stages.