The Tianlong-3 rocket, developed by Space Pioneer, is poised for its maiden voyage on April 2 (Beijing Time). Representing China's inaugural commercial high-capacity liquid-fueled rocket, it is anticipated to boast a low Earth orbit payload capacity exceeding 20 tons. Its performance is projected to be on par with SpaceX's Falcon 9, and it is designed to facilitate the launch of 36 satellites in a single mission. In November of the previous year, the Tianlong-3 successfully underwent two pivotal tests—transportation and vibration—tailored for launching 36 satellites simultaneously, thereby signifying the completion of all ground verification tests. In response to the domestic demand for deploying over 30,000 low-Earth orbit satellites into networks, Space Pioneer is expediting the inaugural flight mission of the Tianlong-3. This move aims to support a robust launch schedule, with over 60 missions projected annually in the foreseeable future.
