The Zhuque-2 is a medium-class orbital launch vehicle developed by the Chinese commercial space company 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 in July, 2023 in the Methalox race to space with several other commercial space companies. The Zhuque-2 rocket is capable of lifting 6,000 kg of payload into a 200 km low Earth orbit (LEO) and 4,000 kg of payload into a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). Landspace was founded in 2015 by Zhang Changwu and developed its first launch vehicle Zhuque-1 which was launched on 27 October 2018. After a successful first- and second-stage firing, and fairing separation, the payload failed to reach orbit due to an issue with the third stage. Zhuque-1 was the first Chinese private orbital rocket to attempt an orbital launch. On 8 December 2023, the Zhuque-2 rocket became the first methane fueled launcher to put satellites into orbit. Learn all about the different launches of the commercial rockets from the Chinese space company Landspace thanks to this overview!
Zhuque launch overview
Weilai-1 (China Central Television)
Images: Landspace
