1. Basic information
Zhuque-2E (ZQ-2E) is a medium-sized launch vehicle developed by Blue Arrow Aerospace based on the Zhuque-2 (ZQ-2) liquid oxygen methane rocket. As the world’s first liquid oxygen methane rocket to successfully enter orbit, Zhuque 2 successfully returned to flight in July 2023, filling the gap in the domestic liquid rocket spectrum and verifying the high efficiency and environmental protection advantages of liquid oxygen methane propellant. Based on this, Blue Arrow Aerospace has developed the Zhuque-2E through optimizing design, improving transportation capacity and reducing costs. It has a LEO (200 km) transportation capacity of 6 tons and an SSO (500 km) transportation capacity of 4 tons. It will complete its first flight on November 27, 2024.
2. Structural composition
(1) One sub-level
The diameter of the first sub-stage of the Suzaku-2 E is 3.35 m. The Y1 arrow uses four Tianque-12 (TQ-12) liquid oxygen methane engines in parallel, with a take-off mass of 219 tons, a take-off thrust of 282 tons, and a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.29. Y2 is equipped with four Tianque 12A (TQ-12A) liquid oxygen methane engines in parallel, with a single thrust of 720 kN at sea level.
(2) Second level
The second stage of Zhuque 2 E is 3.35 m in diameter and uses a single Tianque-15A (TQ-15A) liquid oxygen methane engine (vacuum thrust 85 tons). The Tianque 15A (TQ-15A) engine has a 60% throttle operating condition and three-start capability. It is also equipped with a Yunque (YQ-10) auxiliary power system for precise attitude adjustment, terminal speed correction, propellant sinking, orbit change, deorbit and other functions of the rocket’s last stage.
(3) Fairing
The maximum diameter of the Y1 fairing is 3.35 meters. The Y2 arrow has a composite fairing with a diameter of 4.2 meters and a total length of 8.7 meters. Compared with the Y1 arrow, the fairing of the Y2 arrow has been upgraded from metal to composite material. Tianjin Aisida undertook the development of the φ4200mm composite fairing for the Y2 arrow.
3. Flight records
At 10:00 on November 27, 2024, the Zhuque-2 improved Yaoyi launch vehicle (ZQ-2E Y1) was ignited and lifted off at the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone Blue Arrow Aerospace liquid oxygen methane rocket launch station, successfully sending the optical transmission 01 and 02 test satellites into the predetermined orbit.
At 12:12 on May 17, 2025, the Zhuque-2 improved Yao-2 launch vehicle (ZQ-2E Y2) was successfully launched from LC-43/96A in the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone, and six satellites, Tianyi 29 (Zhizhi No. 1), Tianyi 34 (Southern University of Science and Technology of China No. 1), Tianyi 35 (Nanchang Airlines No. 1), Tianyi 42 (Shenqi No. 02), Tianyi 45 (Beiyou No. 2), and Tianyi 46 (Beiyou No. 3), were successfully launched into space.
4. Main technological innovations
1. Fully subcooled filling technology: the fuel temperature is reduced to -196°C, significantly improving combustion efficiency, and achieving rapid filling of liquid oxygen and methane dual propellants within 1.5 hours, improving launch efficiency;
2. Dual low-temperature single-layer common-bottom storage tanks: The weight of the single-layer common-bottom storage tanks is reduced by 15%, and the reused parts of the rocket body account for 30%, which significantly reduces the mass of the rocket body and improves the structural efficiency;
3. Niobium alloy nozzle manufacturing technology: Breaking through the problem of processing large-sized and high-precision nozzles to improve engine performance. The titanium-niobium alloy nozzle extends the engine life to 20 ignitions;
5. Introduction to Blue Arrow Aerospace
In 2015, Blue Arrow Aerospace was established. In 2023, the Zhuque-2 Yao-2 launch vehicle successfully entered orbit, becoming the world’s first liquid oxygen methane rocket to enter orbit. In June 2024, Blue Arrow Aerospace, as the main completion unit, won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award for the “Complex and Variable Working Conditions Centrifugal Pump Key Technology and Engineering Application” project. Currently, Blue Arrow Aerospace has established an intelligent engine manufacturing base in Huzhou, which is responsible for pipeline production and engine assembly; it has deployed launch vehicle intelligent manufacturing bases in Jiaxing and Wuxi respectively to serve the final assembly and general testing of the Zhuque 2 and Zhuque 3 rockets. In addition, in the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Blue Arrow Aerospace invested in the construction of a liquid oxygen methane rocket launch site, which specifically includes a technical area and a launch area. The technical area covers the rocket and satellite assembly and testing plant and the command and control center; the No. 1 station in the launch area can meet the launch needs of the Suzaku-2 rocket. In order to promote the development of the Zhuque-3 reusable rocket, a No. 2 station was built on the other side of the No. 1 station.
