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Zhuque-2

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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]

Design

[edit]

Zhuque-2 has a liftoff weight of 216 tonnes and uses 4 TQ-12 methalox engines in the first stage, each with a thrust of 67 tonnes-force (660 kN).[3][4] The second stage uses one vacuum-optimized TQ-12 with a thrust of 80 tonnes-force (780 kN) in combination with a TQ-11 engine (8 tonnes-force (78 kN) thrust), which acts as a vernier thruster.[5]

Zhuque-2 is capable of lifting 6,000 kg of payload into a 200 km low Earth orbit and 4,000 kg of payload into a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit.[1][6]

History

[edit]

In May 2019, LandSpace performed test firings of its liquid-methane and liquid-oxygen fuelled TQ-12 rocket engine at its test facility at Huzhou, Zhejiang province. LandSpace's head of research and development, Ge Minghe, says that the engine has a thrust of 80 tonnes-force. The Huzhou facility will be able to produce about 15 ZQ-2 rockets and 200 TQ-12 engines starting in 2022, according to CEO, Zhang Changwu.[7][8][needs update]

On 14 December 2022, LandSpace conducted the debut flight of Zhuque-2, but failed to reach orbit due to an early shutdown of its second-stage vernier engines after the second-stage main engines apparently completed a successful burn. It was the world's first orbital launch attempt by a methane-fueled launch vehicle.[9]

In March 2023, LandSpace confirmed that the second Zhuque-2 launch vehicle had completed assembly and was undergoing preparations for a launch attempt in the coming months.[10]

On 12 July 2023, Zhuque-2 became the first methane-fueled launch vehicle to reach orbit after a successful second flight.[1][11][12]

Launches

[edit]
Rocket, serial Flight number Date (UTC) Payload Orbit Launch site Outcome Notes
Zhuque-2 Y1 14 December 2022
08:30[13]
Various SSO Jiuquan, Site 96 Failure Maiden Flight of Zhuque-2. vernier engines failed during second-stage main-engine shutdown due to excessive forces damaging liquid-oxygen feed line.
First launch vehicle using liquid methane propellant to reach space (100 km altitude).
Zhuque-2 Y2 12 July 2023
01:00[1]
No payload (Flight test) SSO Jiuquan, Site 96 Success First launch vehicle using liquid methane propellant to reach orbit.
Zhuque-2 Y3 8 December 2023
23:39[14]
Honghu-1
Honghu-2
Tianyi 33
SSO Jiuquan, Site 96 Success First methane launch vehicle to launch payloads into orbit. Last launch of Zhuque-2, Future launches will happen on upgraded Zhuque-2E.
Zhuque-2E Y? November 2024[15] TBA SSO Jiuquan, Site 96 Planned Maiden flight of Zhuque-2E.

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d 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.
  3. ^ Advanced rocket engine ready for space mission May 2019
  4. ^ LandSpace Completes Hot Fire Test of Groundbreaking TQ-12 Methalox Engine May 2019
  5. ^ Lan, Chen; Myrrhe, Jacqueline (3 September 2019). "Will LandSpace be China's SpaceX?". The Space Review. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  6. ^ Zhuque-2 Y2 is only capable of lifting 1,500 kg of payload into a SSO yet. "热烈庆祝全球首枚液氧甲烷运载火箭成功入轨——朱雀二号遥二发射圆满成功!" (in Chinese (China)). LandSpace. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023. 运载能力为500km太阳同步轨道1.5吨,后续改进型可实现500km太阳同步轨道运载能力4吨。
  7. ^ Advanced rocket engine ready for space mission, Space Daily, 2019-05-21.
  8. ^ Jones, Andrew (5 June 2020). "Chinese private launch firms advance with methane engines, launch preparations and new funding". SpaceNews. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  9. ^ Beil, Adrian (14 December 2022). "Chinese Zhuque-2 fails during first methalox orbital launch attempt". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  10. ^ Beil, Adrian (31 March 2023). "LandSpace readies for the second flight of ZhuQue-2 amid launch salvo". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  11. ^ "China's Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket". Spacenews.com. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  12. ^ Jones, Andrew (12 July 2023). "China's Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  13. ^ Fernholz, Tim. "The SpaceX of China aims to commercialize a mysterious rocket on the world stage". Quartz (publication).
  14. ^ Beil, Adrian (8 December 2023). "ZhuQue-2 launches on third flight". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  15. ^ Beil, Adrian (8 December 2023). "ZhuQue-2 launches on third flight". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 9 December 2023.