Zhuque-2
Rendering of Zhuque-2
FunctionOrbital launch vehicle
ManufacturerLandSpace
Country of originChina
Size
Height49.5 m (162 ft)
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Mass219,000 kg (483,000 lb)
Stages2
Capacity
Payload to Low Earth orbit (LEO)
Mass6,000 kg (13,000 lb)
Payload to Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO)
Mass4,000 kg (8,800 lb)
Launch history
Status
  • Block 1: Active
  • Block 2: In Development
Launch sites
Total launches
  • 3
Success(es)
  • 2
Failure(s)1
First flight
  • 14 December 2022
Last flight8 December 2023
First stage
Powered by
Maximum thrust2,680 kN (273 tf; 600,000 lbf)
PropellantLOX / CH4
Second stage
Powered by

1 x TQ-11 (Vernier)

Maximum thrust
  • Block 1: 777.67 kN (79.300 tf; 174,830 lbf)
  • Block 2: 836 kN (85.2 tf; 188,000 lbf)
PropellantLOX / CH4
[edit on Wikidata]

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 is the first methane-fueled rocket to reach orbit.[1][2]

Design

Zhuque-2 has a liftoff weight of 216 metric tons and uses 4 TQ-12 methalox engines in the first stage each with a thrust of 67 metric tonnes.[3][4] The second stage utilizes one vacuum optimized TQ-12 with a thrust of 80 metric tonnes in combination with an 8 metric tonnes thrust TQ-11 engine which acts as a vernier thruster.[5]

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.[1][6]

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 the engine has a thrust of 80 tonnes. 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]

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]

Launches

Rocket & Serial Flight No. 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Beil, Adrian (12 July 2023). "LandSpace claims win in the methane race to orbit via second ZhuQue-2 launch". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  2. ^ "China beats rivals to successfully launch first methane-liquid rocket". Reuters. 12 July 2023.
  3. ^ Advanced rocket engine ready for space mission May 2019
  4. ^ LandSpace Completes Hot Fire Test of Groundbreaking TQ-12 Methalox Engine May 2019
  5. ^ Lan, Chen; Myrrhe, Jacqueline (3 September 2019). "Will LandSpace be China's SpaceX?". The Space Review. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  6. ^ 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。
  7. ^ Advanced rocket engine ready for space mission, Space Daily, 2019-05-21
  8. ^ Jones, Andrew (5 June 2020). "Chinese private launch firms advance with methane engines, launch preparations and new funding". SpaceNews. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  9. ^ Beil, Adrian (14 December 2022). "Chinese Zhuque-2 fails during first methalox orbital launch attempt". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  10. ^ Beil, Adrian (31 March 2023). "LandSpace readies for the second flight of ZhuQue-2 amid launch salvo". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  11. ^ "China's Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket". Spacenews.com. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  12. ^ Jones, Andrew (12 July 2023). "China's Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  13. ^ Fernholz, Tim. "The SpaceX of China aims to commercialize a mysterious rocket on the world stage". Quartz (publication).
  14. ^ Beil, Adrian (8 December 2023). "ZhuQue-2 launches on third flight". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
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