Overview
- Space Pioneer conducted a full‑scale ignition of Tianlong‑3’s first stage from an offshore platform near Haiyang, Shandong, firing nine Tianhuo‑12 kerolox engines together.
- Reported thrust figures diverge, with one account citing about 840 metric tons and another nearly 1,102 tons, as the company and reports describe a private‑sector national record.
- Executives say the trial verified first‑stage design and subsystem integration, framing it as the last major technical hurdle before flight.
- The maiden launch is targeted for later this year from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, pending final preparations.
- Space Pioneer points to production capacity of up to 30 Tianlong‑3 vehicles per year to support high‑frequency missions for planned Chinese broadband constellations.