“We Just Stole Their Technology”: China’s Secret Rocket Test Reveals How They Copied SpaceX To Launch 26,000 Satellites And Crush America

The space race is evolving, with China taking significant strides toward advancing its reusable rocket technology. Space Pioneer, a Beijing-based start-up, has recently completed a successful full-scale ground test of its Tianlong-3 launch vehicle. This milestone marks a crucial step as the company prepares for the rocket’s debut flight later this year. On Monday, the Tianlong-3 fired its nine Tianhuo-12 engines for 35 seconds, achieving a thrust of nearly 1,102 tons. This test is a testament to China’s growing ambitions in space exploration and its desire to compete with established players like SpaceX, which has set benchmarks in the industry with its Falcon 9 rocket.

Aiming to Match SpaceX Falcon 9

The Tianlong-3 stands at an impressive 236 feet and is designed as a partially reusable, medium-lift rocket. It is engineered to carry between 17 and 18 tons to low Earth orbit, aligning closely with the capabilities of SpaceX’s Falcon 9. This comparison underscores Space Pioneer’s ambitious goal to challenge the global standard for reusable rockets. Since its development began in 2022, Tianlong-3 has been positioned as a key player in launching internet satellites. The rocket is expected to support the deployment of two substantial Chinese broadband constellations, Guowang and Qianfan, which aim to launch over 13,000 satellites each.

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Despite the ambitious plans, both projects are currently behind schedule due to rocket shortages. Space Pioneer aims to conduct over 30 missions annually, offering a low-cost and high-frequency launch solution once Tianlong-3 becomes operational. This ambitious schedule is indicative of China’s broader strategy to carve out a significant share in the competitive space industry.

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A Competitive Field in China

China’s space ambitions extend beyond Space Pioneer. The country’s landscape is dotted with several contenders vying for a piece of the orbital launch market. LandSpace, a private company, is also in the race with its Zhuque-3 reusable vehicle, which completed a trial in June. LandSpace CEO Zhang Changwu has hinted at a potential launch window between September and November. Meanwhile, China’s national aerospace program is developing the Long March-12A, with its first orbital launch targeted for late 2025.

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All these vehicles share a common design approach: two-stage, medium-lift rockets with reusable first stages. This design philosophy echoes the model pioneered by SpaceX, which showed that reusability could significantly reduce launch costs and increase frequency. However, the path to reusability has not been smooth for China. Last year, a test mishap saw the Tianlong-3 lift off unexpectedly, resulting in a crash. Similarly, LandSpace’s Zhuque-2E faced a setback with a failed flight, although it was reportedly unrelated to the Zhuque-3’s design.

What Does It Mean for the U.S. and the Rest?

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 has set a high bar, achieving an unmatched launch cadence, largely driven by the deployment of its Starlink constellation. However, China’s rapid progress in developing reusable rocket technology signals a narrowing gap in capabilities. If Tianlong-3 or Zhuque-3 can achieve orbit and demonstrate reliable reusability, China could bolster its satellite deployment ambitions significantly. The increasing importance of reusable rockets extends beyond commercial considerations; they are also becoming strategic assets on the global stage.

For the United States, the critical concern is not whether China can replicate the achievements of Falcon 9, but rather how swiftly it can scale these innovations to meet its national objectives. As China continues to enhance its space capabilities, the global landscape of space exploration and utilization is poised for substantial shifts.

As China’s reusable rocket technology advances, it prompts questions about the future of global competition in space. Will China’s progress spur further innovations and collaborations, or will it intensify the space race among nations? The coming years will undoubtedly reveal how these developments reshape the dynamics of space exploration and international cooperation. How will other nations respond to China’s emerging capabilities in the realm of reusable rockets?