Zhuque-2 (Chinese: 朱雀二号; pinyin: Zhūquè èr hào; lit. 'Zhuque-2', ZQ-2) is a Chinese medium-class orbital launch vehicle developed by LandSpace. It is a liquid-fuelled rocket powered by liquid oxygen and liquid methane (methalox) and was the first methane-fueled rocket to reach orbit.[2][3]
Design
Zhuque-2 has a liftoff weight of 216 tonnes and uses 4 TQ-12 methalox engines in the first stage, each with a thrust of 67 tonnes-force (660 kN).[4][5] The second stage uses one vacuum-optimized TQ-12 with a thrust of 80 tonnes-force (780 kN) in combination with a TQ-11 engine (8 tonnes-force (78 kN) thrust), which acts as a vernier thruster.[6]
Zhuque-2 is capable of lifting 6,000 kg of payload into a 200 km low Earth orbit and 4,000 kg of payload into a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit.[2][7]
History
In May 2019, LandSpace performed test firings of its liquid-methane and liquid-oxygen fuelled TQ-12 rocket engine at its test facility at Huzhou, Zhejiang province. LandSpace's head of research and development, Ge Minghe, says that the engine has a thrust of 80 tonnes-force. The Huzhou facility will be able to produce about 15 ZQ-2 rockets and 200 TQ-12 engines starting in 2022, according to CEO, Zhang Changwu.[8][9][needs update]
On 14 December 2022, LandSpace conducted the debut flight of Zhuque-2, but failed to reach orbit due to an early shutdown of its second-stage vernier engines after the second-stage main engines apparently completed a successful burn. It was the world's first orbital launch attempt by a methane-fueled launch vehicle.[10]
In March 2023, LandSpace confirmed that the second Zhuque-2 launch vehicle had completed assembly and was undergoing preparations for a launch attempt in the coming months.[11]
On 12 July 2023, Zhuque-2 became the first methane-fueled launch vehicle to reach orbit after a successful second flight.[2][12]
variant
Zhuque-2E
An enhanced version of the rocket, the Zhuque-2E, successfully placed two satellites into orbit on 27 November 2024. The new version of the rocket differs from the initial variant by featuring a common bulkhead tank structure, a new TQ-15 liquid oxygen and methane engine with thrust vectoring capabilities on the second stage, and a new niobium alloy nozzle extension on the enhanced TQ-15A engine.[13]
ZQ-2E (Block 2)
The Zhuque-2E (Y5), launched on 14 May 2026, is the first of the Block 2 subvariant of the launch vehicle. Various improvements were included on the Block 2 variant which allow the launch vehicle to reach its full designed capabilities such as lifting 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) to Low Earth orbit and 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) to a 500 kilometre SSO orbit. Improvements over the base ZQ-2E include: lengthened first-stage tanks, full subcooled propellant loading, a three-ignition second stage allowing orbital disposal, and an accelerated launch campaign and launch cycle. According to Spacenews.com, the 14 May 2026 "...launch successfully inserted a 2,800-kilogram customized payload described as a 'large-scale constellation deployment experiment' into a 900-kilometer polar orbit, ... The mission demonstrated high-mass payload launch capability and readiness for multi-satellite launch services, the company said in a post-launch statement, as it looks to secure launch contracts from China’s megaconstellation projects."[1]
Launch statistics
Launch outcomes
- Failure
- Partial failure
- Success
- Planned
Launches
| Flight No. |
Rocket, serial | Date and time (UTC) |
Payload | Orbit | Launch site | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zhuque-2 Y1 | 14 December 2022 08:30[14] |
Zhixing 1B Various |
SSO | Jiuquan, Site 96 | Failure |
| Maiden Flight of Zhuque-2. Vernier engines failed during second-stage main-engine shutdown due to excessive forces damaging liquid-oxygen feed line. First launch vehicle using liquid methane propellant to reach space (100 km altitude). | ||||||
| 2 | Zhuque-2 Y2 | 12 July 2023 01:00[2] |
No payload (Flight test) | SSO | Jiuquan, Site 96 | Success |
| First launch vehicle using liquid methane propellant to reach orbit. | ||||||
| 3 | Zhuque-2 Y3 | 8 December 2023 23:39[15] |
Honghu-1 Honghu-2 Tianyi 33 |
SSO | Jiuquan, Site 96 | Success |
| First methane launch vehicle to launch payloads into orbit. Last launch of Zhuque-2, Future launches will happen on upgraded Zhuque-2E. | ||||||
| 4 | Zhuque-2E Y1 | 27 November 2024 02:00[13] |
Guangchuan 01 Guangchuan 02 |
LEO | Jiuquan, Site 96 | Success |
| Maiden flight of Zhuque-2E, featuring a second stage without vernier thrusters. | ||||||
| 5 | Zhuque-2E Y2 | 17 May 2025 04:12[16] |
Tianyi-29 Tianyi-34 Tianyi-35 Tianyi-42 Tianyi-45 Tianyi-46 |
SSO | Jiuquan, Site 96 | Success |
| Second flight of Zhuque-2E. | ||||||
| 6 | Zhuque-2E Y3 | 15 August 2025 01:17 |
GuangChuan × 4 | SSO | Jiuquan, Site 96 | Failure |
| Third flight of Zhuque-2E. According to Landspace, a voltage issue in the second stage triggered the activation of the launch vehicle's self-destruct system resulting in the loss of the vehicle and the satellites.[1] | ||||||
| 7 | Zhuque-2E Y5 | 14 May 2026 03:00[17] |
Experimental test mass[1] | SSO | Jiuquan, Site 96 | Success |
| Return to flight mission. Fourth flight of Zhuque-2E; first flight of ZQ-2E (Block 2) with lengthened first stage and improved takeoff thrust.[1] | ||||||
| 8 | Zhuque-2E Y6 | 9 June 2026 08:23 |
Qianfan DTC 01 China Mobile 02 |
SSO | Jiuquan, Site 96 | Success |
| Second flight of ZQ-2E (Block 2). Upper stage broke apart shortly after separation.[18] | ||||||
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jones, Andrew (14 May 2026). "Landspace launches improved Zhuque-2E, Long March 6A lofts new Qianfan satellite group". Spacenews.com. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Beil, Adrian (12 July 2023). "LandSpace claims win in the methane race to orbit via second ZhuQue-2 launch". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ↑ "China beats rivals to successfully launch first methane-liquid rocket". Reuters. 12 July 2023.
- ↑ Advanced rocket engine ready for space mission May 2019
- ↑ LandSpace Completes Hot Fire Test of Groundbreaking TQ-12 Methalox Engine May 2019
- ↑ Lan, Chen; Myrrhe, Jacqueline (3 September 2019). "Will LandSpace be China's SpaceX?". The Space Review. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ↑ Zhuque-2 Y2 is only capable of lifting 1,500 kg of payload into a SSO yet. "热烈庆祝全球首枚液氧甲烷运载火箭成功入轨——朱雀二号遥二发射圆满成功！" (in Chinese (China)). LandSpace. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
运载能力为500km太阳同步轨道1.5吨，后续改进型可实现500km太阳同步轨道运载能力4吨。
- ↑ Advanced rocket engine ready for space mission, Space Daily, 2019-05-21.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (5 June 2020). "Chinese private launch firms advance with methane engines, launch preparations and new funding". SpaceNews. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ↑ Beil, Adrian (14 December 2022). "Chinese Zhuque-2 fails during first methalox orbital launch attempt". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ↑ Beil, Adrian (31 March 2023). "LandSpace readies for the second flight of ZhuQue-2 amid launch salvo". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ↑ "China's Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket". Spacenews.com. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- 1 2 Jones, Andrew (27 November 2024). "Landspace puts 2 satellites in orbit with enhanced Zhuque-2 rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ Fernholz, Tim. "The SpaceX of China aims to commercialize a mysterious rocket on the world stage". Quartz (publication).
- ↑ Beil, Adrian (8 December 2023). "ZhuQue-2 launches on third flight". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ↑ 李, 国利; 王, 晨宇 (17 May 2025). "朱雀二号改进型遥二运载火箭发射成功". XINHUAnet.com. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ↑ 李, 国利; 王, 晨宇 (14 May 2026). "朱雀二号改进型遥五运载火箭发射成功". XINHUAnet.com. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- ↑ Clark, Stephen (15 June 2026). "A Chinese rocket breaks apart dangerously close to the Starlink constellation". Ars Technica. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
- 顾, 天成; 高, 亢 (9 June 2026). "朱雀二号遥六发射成功 将开展手机直连卫星试验". XINHUAnet.com. Retrieved 9 June 2026.