Zhuque-2

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 × 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

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]

  1. ^ 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.