Space Pioneer has announced that the second Tianlong-3 rocket (Y2) has completed final assembly and full-system testing, and is on track for a return-to-flight mission in the fourth quarter of 2026, pending final technical readiness.
The announcement follows the failure of the first Tianlong-3 rocket (Y1) during its maiden flight on April 3, 2026, at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone. According to the company’s recovery analysis, the anomaly was traced to liquid oxygen suction at the base of the first stage, which triggered secondary combustion. This resulted in structural ablation and a fire in the aft compartment. The findings were confirmed through a formal fault-recovery review.
Space Pioneer stated that corrective measures addressing the root cause have already been validated through ground testing and officially cleared by an expert review panel, completing the recovery process. The Y2 vehicle has now finished assembly and comprehensive testing, and is advancing steadily under the updated technical configuration. The company plans to select an appropriate launch window in Q4 2026 for the return-to-flight mission.
The company emphasized that it will not compromise on performance and will rely on solid verification work to seize the opportunities presented by the current industry window. The Tianlong-3 is designed as a medium-to-large reusable launch vehicle, and its successful return to flight would mark a significant step forward for China’s commercial aerospace sector.
