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]
 Rendering of Zhuque-2 | |
| Function | Orbital launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | LandSpace |
| Country of origin | China |
| Size | |
| Height | 49.5 m (162 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.35 m (11.0 ft) |
| Mass | 219,000 kg (483,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to low Earth orbit (LEO) | |
| Mass | 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) |
| Payload to Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) | |
| Mass | 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status |
|
| Launch sites |
|
| Total launches |
|
| Success(es) |
|
| Failure(s) | 1 |
| First flight |
|
| Last flight | 8 December 2023 |
| First stage | |
| Powered by |
|
| Maximum thrust | 2,680 kN (273 tf; 600,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | LOX / CH4 |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | |
| Maximum thrust |
|
| Propellant | LOX / CH4 |
Design
editZhuque-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
editIn 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
edit
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "China beats rivals to successfully launch first methane-liquid rocket". Reuters. 12 July 2023.
- ^ Advanced rocket engine ready for space mission May 2019
- ^ LandSpace Completes Hot Fire Test of Groundbreaking TQ-12 Methalox Engine May 2019
- ^ Lan, Chen; Myrrhe, Jacqueline (3 September 2019). "Will LandSpace be China's SpaceX?". The Space Review. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ 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。
- ^ Advanced rocket engine ready for space mission, Space Daily, 2019-05-21.
- ^ Jones, Andrew (5 June 2020). "Chinese private launch firms advance with methane engines, launch preparations and new funding". SpaceNews. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ Beil, Adrian (14 December 2022). "Chinese Zhuque-2 fails during first methalox orbital launch attempt". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ Beil, Adrian (31 March 2023). "LandSpace readies for the second flight of ZhuQue-2 amid launch salvo". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "China's Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket". Spacenews.com. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ Jones, Andrew (12 July 2023). "China's Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ Fernholz, Tim. "The SpaceX of China aims to commercialize a mysterious rocket on the world stage". Quartz (publication).
- ^ Beil, Adrian (8 December 2023). "ZhuQue-2 launches on third flight". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ Beil, Adrian (8 December 2023). "ZhuQue-2 launches on third flight". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 9 December 2023.