On September 15, 2025, at the Haiyang Oriental Spaceport in Shandong, China's commercial space industry achieved a historic breakthrough: the sea test of the first-stage propulsion system of the Tianlong-3 large liquid launch vehicle, independently developed by Space Pioneer, was a complete success. Yantai Changyun Mechanical Equipment Installation Engineering Co., Ltd., together with Zoomlion crawler cranes, provided crucial equipment support for this pioneering mission with rock-solid lifting performance.

The first-stage propulsion system of the Tianlong-3 rocket lifted in this operation required ground assembly before being precisely lifted and transferred by Zoomlion cranes to the offshore launch platform. Facing challenges unique to offshore operations such as wind resistance, sway prevention, and salt-fog protection, Zoomlion cranes demonstrated outstanding environmental adaptability and stability. Their advanced anti-sway control system and millimeter-level micro-motion precision ensured that the invaluable rocket body remained stable and fully controlled during lifting, with no risk of failure.

Of particular note, this test adopted an innovative "rocket body reuse" model. This means the lifting equipment undertaking the task not only had to complete the initial lift, but also, after the test, safely hoist the rocket body—which had withstood high-temperature flames—back to the maintenance station, posing a dual test of equipment reliability and precision.

It is reported that the Tianlong-3 will conduct its maiden flight before the end of this year, with plans to rapidly achieve routine commercial launches after the first flight, supporting more than 30 launch missions annually. To support high-frequency launches, Space Pioneer has built China's first private dedicated launch pad for liquid oxygen-kerosene rockets at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and has begun planning and construction of a second dedicated launch pad.

The successful completion of this mission not only marks China's commercial space industry entering a new stage of large-scale development, but also demonstrates that domestically produced high-end lifting equipment has reached internationally leading levels and can meet the most demanding aerospace-grade lifting requirements. With the rapid development of China's commercial space industry, Zoomlion will continue to provide strong equipment support for building a space power with high-quality lifting solutions.