Launch of China's Landspace Zhuque-2E Methalox Commercial Rocket

Launch of China's Landspace Zhuque-2E Methalox Commercial Rocket

At 10am China Standard Time (CST) on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, an improved Landspace Zhuque-2E (ZQ-2E Y1) methane/liquid oxygen-fueled (methalox/CH4) carrier rocket was launched at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Zone within China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The rocket successfully delivered the Guangchuan-01 and Guangchuan-02 experimental satellites into their designated orbits, marking the complete success of its test flight.

Chinese private aerospace company Landspace is a commercial world leader in methane/liquid oxygen powered rocket engines that have proved capable of delivering payloads to low-Earth orbit.

The new Zhuque-2E rocket has upgraded first stage engines and a new second stage with an engine nozzle that swivels. The Zhuque-2E will finally reach the 6 metric ton low-Earth orbit (LEO)/4 metric ton Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) capability Landspace planned. China's pioneering commercial space launch company, LandSpace, now has the opportunity to send heavy satellite payloads to Earth orbit before SpaceX's Starship does using methane/liquid oxygen engines.

LandSpace Technology Corporation is a Chinese commercial space launch provider based in Beijing. It was founded in 2015 by Zhang Changwu. In July 2023, the company's Zhuque-2 rocket became the first methane-fueled orbital launch vehicle in the world after reaching orbit on its second flight. LandSpace planned three Zhuque-2 launches in 2024 and another six in 2025.

Zhuque-2E Y1 Methalox Rocket Data Sheet:

47.3m*3.35m, 220t liftoff mass

4 TQ-12 methalox engines provide 282t liftoff thrust

1 TQ-15A vacuum engine in 2nd stage

Mission profile:

T+140s 1st stage off

T+143s stagging

T+145s 2nd stage ignition

T+214s fairings jettison

T+243s throttling to 60%

T+395s 2nd stage off

T+505s satellites separation

2 satellites to 300km*500km*50° LEO

Image Credit: Landspace
Release Date: Nov. 27, 2024

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