Beijing company sets new thrust record in rocket engine testby Riko SeiboTokyo, Japan (SPX) Sep 17, 2025Space Pioneer, a Beijing-based private launch firm, has completed a major ignition test of its TL 3 carrier rocket, establishing a national record for thrust produced by any Chinese privately developed launch vehicle. Nine TH-12 liquid oxygen-kerosene engines fired for 30 seconds, generating around 840 metric tons of thrust. The trial confirmed the TL 3 first-stage design and subsystem integration, while also marking China's first sea-based engine ignition test. The previous record of 769 tons was set in June by LandSpace's TQ-12A engines at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia. With 840 tons of thrust, it can transport 17 tons to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit or 22 tons to low Earth orbit.