{"id":24240,"date":"2023-07-12T00:10:33","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T16:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/landspace-claims-win-in-the-methane-race-to-orbit-via-second-zhuque-2-launch\/"},"modified":"2023-07-12T00:10:33","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T16:10:33","slug":"landspace-claims-win-in-the-methane-race-to-orbit-via-second-zhuque-2-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/landspace-claims-win-in-the-methane-race-to-orbit-via-second-zhuque-2-launch\/","title":{"rendered":"LandSpace claims win in the methane race to orbit via second ZhuQue-2 launch"},"content":{"rendered":"

LandSpace launched its methane-based ZhuQue-2 rocket on Wednesday. This was the rocket\u2019s second launch after its failed maiden flight in December 2022. Initial claims from the company noted a mission success, marking the first methalox rocket to reach orbit.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The<\/b> ZhuQue-2 rocket<\/b><\/p>\n

ZhuQue-2 (Redbird 2 in English) is a rocket designed by the Chinese private company LandSpace. It stands 49.5 meters tall with a rocket body diameter of 3.35 meters. The medium-sized launch vehicle has a carrying capacity of up to six tons into a 200-kilometer low-Earth orbit and up to four tons into a 500-kilometer Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).<\/p>\n

One focus of the development of ZhuQue-2 was green and economically viable methane. According to the LandSpace website, the price of propellant was reduced by 50-90%, comparable to similar Chinese launchers. Furthermore, methane allows for a non-toxic, less-polluting, and more modern approach to fuel the rocket, compared to the hypergolics of the early Chang Zheng family.<\/p>\n

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ZQ-2 on the pad. (Credit: LandSpace)<\/p>\n

Also, ZhuQue-2 utilizes standardization and generalization across the whole rocket. The rocket is made out of off-the-shelf parts when possible, and with that, LandSpace could reduce the cost of the whole stack even further.<\/p>\n

The first stage, which features the rocket\u2019s characteristic red bird, is powered by four TQ-12 liquid methane-liquid oxygen (methalox) engines. These are China\u2019s first methane engines used on a launch vehicle. They are gas generator open-cycle engines, which are simpler than other new methalox engines, such as SpaceX\u2019s Raptor or Blue Origin\u2019s BE-4. When combined, four TQ-12 engines are referred to as a TQ-13 engine pack.<\/p>\n

See Also<\/h4>\n
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  • Zhuque-2 Updates<\/li>\n
  • China Forum Section<\/li>\n
  • L2 Resources<\/li>\n
  • Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    At liftoff, these engines produce a thrust of 268 tons. The whole stack has a mass of 219 tons, which brings the overall thrust-to-weight ratio to 1.22. The engines have a nozzle diameter of 1.5 meters and operate on a mixture ratio of 3.5 parts oxygen to methane by mass. The specific impulse at sea level is 284.5 seconds. <\/p>\n

    NASA mission updates<\/path>Spaceflight news subscription<\/path>Aerospace industry analysis<\/path>\n

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    The engines were initially fired in May 2019 in preparation to certify them for the maiden flight. Down the line, LandSpace plans to develop this engine into the TQ-12A, providing improved thrust, specific impulse, and mass efficiency. <\/p>\n

    In the second stage, the rocket still features a TQ-12 engine, assisted by four TQ-11 vernier engines. This will change in one of the upcoming flights with the upgrade to the TQ-15A engine, providing gimbal capabilities and deleting the vernier engines. <\/p>\n

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    Four TQ-12 engines at the bottom of ZQ-2. (Credit: LandSpace)<\/p>\n

    After the second stage burn is done, the final insertion burn will only be done by the TQ-11 vernier engines. While the main chamber shuts down, the four verniers will bring the rocket into the final orbit using a more precise thrust. <\/p>\n

    The first stage of the rocket will also feature reusability in the future. While this is not a topic that LandSpace has detailed so far, it was confirmed that the first stage TQ-12A engine will be built with multiple relights in mind, which is required for a reusable first stage if the company desires to land it propulsively. <\/p>\n

    Leading up to launch<\/b><\/p>\n

    The first signs of an imminent launch campaign were sightings by Harry Stranger, who used satellite imagery to see that the pathfinder rocket was back on LandSpace\u2019s Launch Site 96. This ZhuQue-2 pathfinder was used in the past for fit checks of the transporter and pad and hinted at a return of the rocket shortly.<\/p>\n

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    More photos of the prominent rocket carrying containers on the 3700+ km trucking route from LandSpace's press release: https:\/\/t.co\/cKsksKpCme<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hp8c6COyEz<\/a><\/p>\n

    — Cosmic Penguin (@Cosmic_Penguin) May 12, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n