Watch the Launch

Flight 2

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Mission: Test Flight

Sun-Synchronous Orbit Launch Area 96A Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Second test flight of LandSpace's Zhuque-2 rocket with a dummy payload. This launch was the first successful use of methane/liquid oxygen-powered rocket engines for transportation to Earth orbit and beyond.

Updates

Jay • July 12, 2023, 1:17 a.m.

The vehicle experienced a spin, but achieved the primary mission objective of achieving orbit.


Jay • July 12, 2023, 1:08 a.m.

Liftoff confirmed


Cosmic_Penguin • July 11, 2023, 3:02 a.m.

Launch moved forward by 5 hours per new NOTAMs.


Cosmic_Penguin • July 7, 2023, 4:17 a.m.

Added launch time per NOTAMs.


Cosmic_Penguin • July 2, 2023, 4:55 p.m.

NET July 12.


Zhuque-2

Family:
Configuration:

Zhuque-2 is a medium-sized rocket powered by liquid oxygen and methane capable of lifting 6,000 kg of payload into a 200 km low Earth orbit, or 4,000 kg of payload into a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit.

See Details
Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    49.5 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Launch Mass
    229.0 T
  • Thrust
    2680.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Zhuque-2
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Zhuque-2
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    4000.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    1500.0 kg

LandSpace

LandSpace

(LS)

Founder: Zhang Changwu Founded: 2015 Successes: 5 Failures: 3 Pending: 0

Agency Type:

LandSpace is a Chinese private space launch company based in Beijing. It was founded in 2015 by Tsinghua University alumni Zhang Changwu.

WIKI

Related News

Teslarati

China’s LandSpace Zhuque-2 Rocket wins methane-fueled rocket race

The world’s first methane-fueled rocket successfully reached orbit after launching on July 12th. The private, but government-funded company beat the likes of...

SpaceNews

China’s Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket

Chinese private rocket firm Landspace achieved a global first late Tuesday by reaching orbit with a methane-fueled rocket.

NASASpaceflight

LandSpace claims win in the methane race to orbit via second ZhuQue-2 launch

LandSpace launched its methane-based ZhuQue-2 rocket on Wednesday. This was the rocket’s second launch after its failed maiden flight in December 2022. Initial claims from the company noted a mission success, marking the first methalox roc…

The Launch Pad

Landspace Zhuque-2 Reaches Orbit, China Wins Methalox Space Race

China wins Methalox Space Race as Landspace, a private launch provider launches its Zhuque-2 rocket on its second ever flight. The Zhuque-2 experienced a nominal boost phase, stable orbit was confirmed, then the vehicle entered a spin.

NASASpaceflight

Launch Roundup: SpaceX to finish Starlink v1 flights – China launches methane powered ZQ-2

This week, LandSpace reached orbit on its second test flight of the ZhuQue-2 rocket; SpaceX will launch the final v1.0/v1.5 Starlink satellites on Starlink Group 5-15; India will launch the Chandrayaan-3 lunar exploration mission atop thei…

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Area 96A


Long March 2D
Success
8 hours, 55 minutes ago
Shiyan 30 03-04
Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1) - Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

A pair of Chinese satellites reported to be for "Earth observation technological testing and validation" purposes. Actual usage not known.


Long March 8A
Success
11 hours, 40 minutes ago
SatNet LEO Group 20
Commercial LC-1 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

A batch of 9 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Chinese state owned SatNet constellation operated by the China Satellite Network Group.…


Firefly Alpha
Success
1 day, 6 hours ago
Stairway to Seven
Space Launch Complex 2W - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Firefly Alpha's Flight 7 is a test flight and return-To-Flight for the launch vehicle after its April 2025 launch failure. It will test and validate …


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 3 hours ago
EchoStar 25
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

EchoStar 25 is a direct broadcast satellite, built on the proven Maxar 1300 series platform, which will deliver content across North America. It will…


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 20 hours ago
Starlink Group 17-18
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Electron
Success
1 week ago
Insight At Speed Is A Friend Indeed (BlackSky Gen-3 4)
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A - Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Note: Payload and customer identities were not publicly announced. 4th of the BlackSky Gen-3 high resolution Earth-imaging satellites.


KAIROS
Failure
1 week, 1 day ago
Flight 3
Space One Launch Pad - Spaceport Kii, Japan

Third flight of the KAIROS launch vehicle. 5 satellites will be on board: * TATARA-1R * SC-Sat1a * HErO * AETS-1 * Nutsat-3 (TASA/Taiwan)


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
Starlink Group 10-40
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 4 days ago
Starlink Group 10-41
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 4 days ago
Starlink Group 17-23
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.