Rendering of Zhuque-2
| |
| Function | Orbital launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | LandSpace |
| Country of origin | China |
| Size | |
| Height | 49.5 m (162 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.35 m (11.0 ft) |
| Mass | 219,000 kg (483,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to low Earth orbit (LEO) | |
| Mass | 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) |
| Payload to Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) | |
| Mass | 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status |
|
| Launch sites |
|
| Total launches |
|
| Success(es) |
|
| Failure(s) | 1 |
| First flight |
|
| Last flight | 8 December 2023 |
| First stage | |
| Powered by |
|
| Maximum thrust | 2,680 kN (273 tf; 600,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | LOX / CH4 |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by |
|
| Maximum thrust |
|
| Propellant | LOX / CH4 |
Zhuque-2 (Chinese: 朱雀二号; pinyin: Zhūquè èr hào; lit. 'Vermilion Bird-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.[1][2]
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).[3][4] 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.[5]
Zhuque-2 is capable of lifting 6,000 kg of payload into a 200 kmlow Earth orbit and 4,000 kg of payload into a 500 kmSun-synchronous orbit.[1][6]
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.[7][8][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.[9]
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.[10]
On 12 July 2023, Zhuque-2 became the first methane-fueled launch vehicle to reach orbit after a successful second flight.[1][11][12]
| Rocket, serial | Flight number | Date (UTC) | Payload | Orbit | Launch site | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhuque-2 | Y1 | 14 December 2022 08:30[13] |
Various | SSO | Jiuquan, Site 96 | Failure | Second-stage 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). |
| Zhuque-2 | Y2 | 12 July 2023 01:00[1] |
No payload (Flight test) | SSO | Jiuquan, Site 96 | Success | First launch vehicle using liquid methane propellant to reach orbit. |
| Zhuque-2 | Y3 | 8 December 2023 23:39[14] |
Honghu-1 Honghu-2 Tianyi 33 |
SSO | Jiuquan, Site 96 | Success | First methane launch vehicle to launch payloads into orbit. |
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。
