Zhuque-2

Zhuque-2
	Rendering of Zhuque-2
Function	Orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	LandSpace
Country of origin	China
Size
Height	Zhuque-2: 49.5 m (162 ft); Zhuque-2E (block 1): 47.8 m (157 ft); Zhuque-2E (block 2): 55.9 m (183 ft);
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Mass	Zhuque-2: 219,000 kg (483,000 lb); Zhuque-2E (block 1): 220,000 kg (490,000 lb); Zhuque-2E (block 2): 267,000 kg (589,000 lb);
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Altitude	200 km (120 mi)
Mass	Zhuque-2: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb); Zhuque-2E: 6,000 kg (13,000 lb)
Payload to SSO
Mass	Zhuque-2: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb); Zhuque-2E: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb)
Launch history
Status	Zhuque-2: Retired; Zhuque-2E: Active;
Launch sites	Jiuquan Site 96;
Total launches	9
Success(es)	7
Failure	2
First flight	14 December 2022
Last flight	15 September 2026, most recent
First stage
Powered by	Zhuque-2: 4 × TQ-12; Zhuque-2E: 4 × TQ-12A;
Maximum thrust	Zhuque-2: 2,680 kN (273 tf; 600,000 lbf); Zhuque-2E (block 1): 2,880 kN (294 tf; 650,000 lbf); Zhuque-2E (block 2): 3,312 kN (337.7 tf; 745,000 lbf);
Propellant	LOX / CH4
Second stage
Powered by	Zhuque-2: 1 × TQ-12 Vac + 1 × TQ-11 (Vernier); Zhuque-2E: 1 × TQ-15A;
Maximum thrust	Zhuque-2: 777.67 kN (79.300 tf; 174,830 lbf); Zhuque-2E: 836 kN (85.2 tf; 188,000 lbf);
Propellant	LOX / CH4
	[edit on Wikidata]

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 article wrote, "...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

1

2

3

'22

'23

'24

'25

'26

Failure
Partial failure
Success
Planned

Launches

Zhuque-2 Y2 launch

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
1	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
2	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
3	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
4	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
5	Second flight of Zhuque-2E.
6	Zhuque-2E Y3	15 August 2025 01:17	GuangChuan × 4	SSO	Jiuquan, Site 96	Failure
6	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
7	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
8	Second flight of ZQ-2E (Block 2). Upper stage broke apart shortly after separation.^[18]^[19]
9	Zhuque-2E Y7	15 September 2026 06:26	Qianfan Jigui Group 19	SSO	Jiuquan, Site 96	Success
9	10 satellites for the Thousand Sails megaconstallation.

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.

[SN-AJ-14052026-1] 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.

[nsf-20230712-2] 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.

[3] "China beats rivals to successfully launch first methane-liquid rocket". Reuters. 12 July 2023.

[TQ-12-a-4] Advanced rocket engine ready for space mission May 2019

[5] LandSpace Completes Hot Fire Test of Groundbreaking TQ-12 Methalox Engine May 2019

[6] Lan, Chen; Myrrhe, Jacqueline (3 September 2019). "Will LandSpace be China's SpaceX?". The Space Review. Retrieved 28 November 2021.

[7] 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。

[TQ-12-test-8] Advanced rocket engine ready for space mission, Space Daily, 2019-05-21.

[sn-20200605-9] Jones, Andrew (5 June 2020). "Chinese private launch firms advance with methane engines, launch preparations and new funding". SpaceNews. Retrieved 23 June 2020.

[10] Beil, Adrian (14 December 2022). "Chinese Zhuque-2 fails during first methalox orbital launch attempt". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 15 December 2022.

[11] Beil, Adrian (31 March 2023). "LandSpace readies for the second flight of ZhuQue-2 amid launch salvo". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 31 March 2023.

[12] "China's Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket". Spacenews.com. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.

[SN-27112024-13] 1 2 Jones, Andrew (27 November 2024). "Landspace puts 2 satellites in orbit with enhanced Zhuque-2 rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 27 November 2024.

[:1-14] Fernholz, Tim. "The SpaceX of China aims to commercialize a mysterious rocket on the world stage". Quartz (publication).

[15] Beil, Adrian (8 December 2023). "ZhuQue-2 launches on third flight". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 9 December 2023.

[XH-17052025-16] 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.

[XH-14052026-17] 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.

[18] Clark, Stephen (15 June 2026). "A Chinese rocket breaks apart dangerously close to the Starlink constellation". Ars Technica. Retrieved 19 June 2026.

[XH-09062026-19] 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.

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List of orbital launch systems Comparison of orbital launch systems
Current	Angara 1.2 A5 Ariane 6 Atlas V Ceres 1 1S 2^† Chollima-1 Electron Eris^† Falcon 9 Block 5 Falcon Heavy Firefly Alpha Gravity-1 GSLV H3 HANBIT-NANO^† Hyperbola-1 Jielong 1 3 KAIROS^† Kaituozhe 2 Kinetica 1 2 Kuaizhou 1 1A 11 Long March 2C 2D 2F 3A 3B/E 3C 4B 4C 5 5B 6 6A 6C 7 7A 8 10B 11 11H 12 12A 12B LVM3 Minotaur I IV V C New Glenn Nuri OS-M1^† Pallas-1 Proton-M PSLV Qaem 100 Qased Shavit 2 Simorgh SLS Block 1 Soyuz-2 2.1a / STA 2.1b / STB Soyuz-5 Spectrum SSLV Tianlong 2 3^† Unha Vega C Vikram-1 Vulcan Centaur Zhuque 2E 3
In development	Antares 330 Bloostar Blue Whale 1 Cyclone-4M Deca Eclipse Epsilon S Gravity-2 Hyperbola-2 Kinetica 2H 3 KSLV-III Kuaizhou 21 31 Long March 9 10 10A Maia Miura 5 Neutron New Line 1 NGLV Nova OS-M 2 4 RFA One SLS Block 1B Block 2 Soyuz-7 Starship Terran R Vikram-2 VLM Vega E Zero Zuljanah
Retired	Antares 110 120 130^† 230 230+ Ariane 1 2 3 4 5 ASLV Athena I II Atlas B D E/F G H I II III LV-3B SLV-3 Able^† Agena Centaur Black Arrow Conestoga^† Delta A B C D E G J L M N 0100 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 II III IV IV Heavy Diamant Dnepr Energia Epsilon Europa I^† II^† Falcon 1 Falcon 9 v1.0 v1.1 v1.2 "Full Thrust" Feng Bao 1 GSLV Mk I H-I H-II H-IIA H-IIB Juno I Juno II Kaituozhe-1 Kosmos original 1 2/2I 3 3M Lambda 4S LauncherOne Long March 1 1D^† 2A 2E 3 3B 4A Mu 4S 3C 3H 3S 3SII V N1^† N-I N-II Naro-1 Paektusan^† Pegasus Standard Hybrid XL Pilot-2^† R-7 Luna Molniya M L Polyot Soyuz original FG L M U U2 2-1v Soyuz/Vostok Sputnik Voskhod Vostok L K 2 2M R-29 Shtil' Volna^† Rocket 3 RS1^† Safir 1 1A 1B Saturn I IB V Scout X-1 Blue Scout II^† X-2^† X-2M X-3 X-3M X-4 X-2B^† B A B-1 D-1 A-1 E-1 F-1 G-1 Shavit original 1 SLV Space Shuttle SPARK^† Sparta SS-520 Start-1 Terran 1^† Thor Able Ablestar 1 2 Agena A B D Burner 1 2 Delta DSV-2U Thorad-Agena SLV-2G SLV-2H Titan II GLV IIIA IIIB IIIC IIID IIIE 34D 23G CT-3 IV Tsyklon R-36-O original 2 3 Universal Rocket UR-500 Proton Proton-K Rokot Strela Vanguard Vega VLS-1^† Zenit 2 2M 2FG 3SL 3SLB 3F Zhuque 1^† 2
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