HELSINKI — Chinese launch startup Landspace put two satellites into orbit late Tuesday with the first launch of an improved version of the Zhuque-2 rocket.
The Zhuque-2 enhanced version (ZQ-2E) lifted off at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Nov. 26 (0200 UTC, Nov. 27) from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Area at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Insulation tiles fell away from the rocket as it climbed into an overcast sky above the spaceport.
Landspace announced the success of the launch, revealing the payloads to be the Guangchuan 01 and 02 satellites. Few details of the satellites were provided.
It is the fourth flight of the Zhuque-2 overall. The first, in December 2022, ended in failure. Two successful launches followed in 2023.
The enhanced 47.3-meter-long Zhuque-2E has a diameter of 3.35 meters and can carry 4,000 kg to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
The first stage of the rocket uses four Tianque-12 (TQ-12) liquid oxygen-methane engines in parallel, and the second stage uses a single Tianque-15A (TQ-15A) liquid oxygen-methane engine. The second stage engine is an upgrade over the earlier engine, with vernier thrusters replaced by a vector control system, saving 400 kilograms in mass.
Landspace is also developing a throttleable, restartable Tianque-12A engine for the first stage, but this is yet to fly.
The company claims the new Zhuque-2E is China’s first rocket to use fully supercooled propellant loading, and uses a common bulkhead tank structure. The TQ-15A engine also features a large niobium alloy nozzle extension, reducing structural weight. The second Zhuque-2E could fly as soon as December.
Meanwhile, Landspace is working on the larger Zhuque-3 stainless steel reusable launcher. The company conducted a 10-kilometer-altitude launch and landing test in September and aims for a first launch in 2025.
Tuesday’s launch was China’s 58th orbital launch attempt of 2024, following the launch of a pair of SuperView Neo-2 radar satellites via a Long March 2C Nov. 25. China’s main space contractor had said early in the year that the country aimed for a total of around 100 Long March and commercial rocket launches across 2024.
The launch of the first Long March 12 rocket is expected in the coming days, following its delivery to the pad at Wenchang’s new commercial launch center Nov. 26. Flight restrictions have been set in place for the period Nov. 28-30.
