Watch the Launch

Watch the Launch

Flight 2

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Mission: Test Flight

Sun-Synchronous Orbit Launch Area 96A Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Second test flight of LandSpace's Zhuque-2 rocket with a dummy payload. This launch was the first successful use of methane/liquid oxygen-powered rocket engines for transportation to Earth orbit and beyond.

Updates

Jay • July 12, 2023, 1:17 a.m.

The vehicle experienced a spin, but achieved the primary mission objective of achieving orbit.


Jay • July 12, 2023, 1:08 a.m.

Liftoff confirmed


Cosmic_Penguin • July 11, 2023, 3:02 a.m.

Launch moved forward by 5 hours per new NOTAMs.


Cosmic_Penguin • July 7, 2023, 4:17 a.m.

Added launch time per NOTAMs.


Cosmic_Penguin • July 2, 2023, 4:55 p.m.

NET July 12.


Zhuque-2

Family:
Configuration:

Zhuque-2 is a medium-sized rocket powered by liquid oxygen and methane capable of lifting 6,000 kg of payload into a 200 km low Earth orbit, or 4,000 kg of payload into a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit.

See Details
Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    49.5 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Launch Mass
    229.0 T
  • Thrust
    2680.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Zhuque-2
  • Family
    ―
  • Variant
    ―
  • Alias
    ―
  • Full Name
    Zhuque-2
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    ―
  • Low Earth Orbit
    4000.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    ―
  • Direct Geostationary
    ―
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    1500.0 kg

LandSpace

LandSpace

(LS)

Founder: Zhang Changwu Founded: 2015 Successes: 10 Failures: 3 Pending: 0

Agency Type:

LandSpace is a Chinese private space launch company based in Beijing. It was founded in 2015 by Tsinghua University alumni Zhang Changwu.

WIKI
Teslarati

China’s LandSpace Zhuque-2 Rocket wins methane-fueled rocket race

The world’s first methane-fueled rocket successfully reached orbit after launching on July 12th. The private, but government-funded company beat the likes of...

SpaceNews

China’s Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket

Chinese private rocket firm Landspace achieved a global first late Tuesday by reaching orbit with a methane-fueled rocket.

NASASpaceflight

LandSpace claims win in the methane race to orbit via second ZhuQue-2 launch

LandSpace launched its methane-based ZhuQue-2 rocket on Wednesday. This was the rocket’s second launch after its failed maiden flight in December 2022. Initial claims from the company noted a mission success, marking the first methalox roc…

The Launch Pad

Landspace Zhuque-2 Reaches Orbit, China Wins Methalox Space Race

China wins Methalox Space Race as Landspace, a private launch provider launches its Zhuque-2 rocket on its second ever flight. The Zhuque-2 experienced a nominal boost phase, stable orbit was confirmed, then the vehicle entered a spin.

NASASpaceflight

Launch Roundup: SpaceX to finish Starlink v1 flights – China launches methane powered ZQ-2

This week, LandSpace reached orbit on its second test flight of the ZhuQue-2 rocket; SpaceX will launch the final v1.0/v1.5 Starlink satellites on Starlink Group 5-15; India will launch the Chandrayaan-3 lunar exploration mission atop thei…

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Area 96A


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