Technicians pose for a group photo with the 100th reusable rocket engine of the TQ series, which rolled off the production line on April 15, 2025 in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. Photo: VCG

 
The 100th reusable rocket engine of the TQ series rolled off the production line on Tuesday of a Chinese private space company, a landmark event in the development of the Chinese commercial space industry, according to China Media Group (CMG).
 
LandSpace, one of the leading Chinese private rocket firms, announced on Tuesday that it has now produced 100 TQ methane engines at its production base in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province.

The rollout on Tuesday showed that the production of rocket engines has achieved scale, ensuring the supply of the core components of rockets to meet the strong demand from frequent launches, according to CMG.
 
The TQ engine was used in a 10-kilometer vertical takeoff and landing test last September. During that test, the country's first in-flight ignition during the descent stage was performed.
 
TQ engines will be used in the ZQ-3 reusable rocket, which has a liftoff thrust of 900 metric tons. LandSpace is planning a maiden launch of this craft in the latter half of this year. If successful, the rocket will be China's first reusable carrier rocket, according to CMG.
 
Having a recyclable rocket will slash launch costs by as much as 70 percent, according to the report.
 
It took just seven years for the company to go from zero to triple-digit production, according to a statement sent to the Global Times on Tuesday.

China's private space sector is deeply rooted in China's vast and sprawling manufacturing sector, and if Chinese players could make breakthroughs and achieve success on par with global industry leaders, it would be of great significance to the country's development, as it will be a great endowment to the "world's factory," an industry insider told the Global Times. 

China's 2025 Government Work Report underlined the need to promote the safe and sound development of commercial space, the low-altitude economy and other emerging industries. This was the second mention of commercial space in the Government Work Report.
 
The commercial space sector is seen as a major engine for China to develop the new quality productive forces.

In March, Rong Yi, a rocket expert at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, said that China will see multiple types of reusable rockets make their debuts in 2025, according to CMG.