T+338: Zhuque-3, Long March 10B, Chang’e-7 (with Andrew Jones)

Andrew Jones returns to the show to catch up on the Chinese space industry—the landings of Zhuque-3 and Long March 10B first stages, Chang’e-7 and its delay, and more.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 executive producers—Steve, Joakim, Ryan, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Joonas, Josh from Impulse, Fred, Will and Lars from Agile, Miles O’Brien, Natasha Tsakos, Lee, Warren, Russell, Stealth Julian, Kris, The Astrogators at SEE, Frank, Matt from Built, Theo and Violet, Joel, Donald, Pat, David, Jan, Matt, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters (mainenginecutoff.com/support).

Topics

• China’s Landspace recovers booster with second orbital launch of Zhuque-3 rocket - SpaceNews (spacenews.com/chinas-landspace-recovers-booste…)

• Landspace aims to refly recovered Zhuque-3 booster within six months - SpaceNews (spacenews.com/landspace-aims-to-refly-recovere…)

• LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 topples following milestone landing - NASASpaceFlight.com (nasaspaceflight.com/2026/08/landspaces-zhuque-…)

• China becomes second country to recover orbital booster with Long March 10B - SpaceNews (spacenews.com/china-becomes-second-country-to-…)

• China lines up methalox Long March 10C as commercial workhorse after first booster recovery - SpaceNews (spacenews.com/china-lines-up-methalox-long-mar…)

• Chinese Long March 7A rocket explodes shortly after liftoff - SpaceNews (spacenews.com/chinese-long-march-7a-rocket-exp…)

• Long March 12 launches despite recent 7A failure, Long March 2C launches satellite for UAE - SpaceNews (spacenews.com/long-march-12-launches-despite-r…)

• China delays Chang’e-7 lunar south pole landing mission launch - SpaceNews (spacenews.com/china-delays-change-7-lunar-sout…)

• Long March 6C launches 7 satellites, Chang’e-7 rocket rolled back to assembly building - SpaceNews (spacenews.com/long-march-6c-launches-7-satelli…)

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