China's Adapted Zhuque-2 Methalox Rocket Achieves First Successful Launch
China's enhanced Zhuque-2 (ZQ-2) methane-fueled carrier rocket has successfully completed its first flight. The launch took place on Wednesday from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone, located in the Gobi Desert of northwestern China, successfully deploying two test satellites into orbit.
TroibNews 
China's modified Zhuque-2 methane-powered carrier rocket has successfully completed its inaugural flight. It lifted off on Wednesday from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone, situated in the Gobi Desert of northwestern China, and successfully deployed two test satellites into orbit.
Referred to as the ZQ-2E Y1, the "E" signifies "Enhanced," while "Y1" denotes the first version of this modified rocket.
LandSpace, the Chinese private space launch service provider behind the rocket, has previously launched three ZQ-2 rockets designated Y1, Y2, and Y3.
While the ZQ-2 Y1 experienced a failure in December 2022, the ZQ-2 Y2 successfully made history in July 2023 by becoming the first methane-propelled rocket to reach orbit.
The subsequent ZQ-2 Y3 also achieved success in December 2023.
The updated ZQ-2E Y1 maintains the fundamental design of the ZQ-2 but has been shortened from 49.5 meters to 47.3 meters in order to decrease its weight.
With this design modification, the rocket's liftoff thrust has been increased from 268 tonnes to 282 tonnes.
The ZQ-2E Y1 is capable of carrying four tonnes specifically for a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
This modified version has also hit numerous milestones, such as reducing fueling time to under 1.5 hours with the help of new technologies, boosting engine performance, and enhancing the stability and reliability of its flight.
LandSpace has announced that the ZQ-2E-Y1 has undergone extensive optimization and improvement and is now officially in the commercial operation phase for mass market delivery.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
Referred to as the ZQ-2E Y1, the "E" signifies "Enhanced," while "Y1" denotes the first version of this modified rocket.
LandSpace, the Chinese private space launch service provider behind the rocket, has previously launched three ZQ-2 rockets designated Y1, Y2, and Y3.
While the ZQ-2 Y1 experienced a failure in December 2022, the ZQ-2 Y2 successfully made history in July 2023 by becoming the first methane-propelled rocket to reach orbit.
The subsequent ZQ-2 Y3 also achieved success in December 2023.
The updated ZQ-2E Y1 maintains the fundamental design of the ZQ-2 but has been shortened from 49.5 meters to 47.3 meters in order to decrease its weight.
With this design modification, the rocket's liftoff thrust has been increased from 268 tonnes to 282 tonnes.
The ZQ-2E Y1 is capable of carrying four tonnes specifically for a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
This modified version has also hit numerous milestones, such as reducing fueling time to under 1.5 hours with the help of new technologies, boosting engine performance, and enhancing the stability and reliability of its flight.
LandSpace has announced that the ZQ-2E-Y1 has undergone extensive optimization and improvement and is now officially in the commercial operation phase for mass market delivery.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
