LandSpace

Zhuque-1

Zhuque-1 (ZQ-1, 朱雀一号 or 朱雀·南太湖号), also known as LandSpace-1 or LS-1, is a 19 m tall, three-stage solid-propellant rocket with a diameter of 1.35 m. It is likely based on the DF-26 missile's rocket motor.[11] Zhuque-1 has a takeoff mass of 27 t, a thrust of 45 tf, and can carry 300 kg of payload into a 300 km low Earth orbit (LEO).

The maiden flight of Zhuque-1 took place on 27 October 2018, from a mobile platform at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, carrying the Weilai-1 satellite for China Central Television. Despite successful first and second stage firings and fairing separation, the payload failed to reach orbit due to a third-stage issue.[12][9] Zhuque-1 was the first Chinese private orbital rocket to attempt an orbital launch.[13]

Following the launch, reports emerged that the solid rocket motor manufacturer had ended its contract with LandSpace, casting doubt on the future of Zhuque-1.[11] Subsequently, LandSpace announced it would shift its focus to developing the methane-fueled Zhuque-2.[14]

Zhuque-2

Zhuque-2 (ZQ-2) is a medium-sized liquid-fuelled rocket powered by liquid oxygen and methane capable of lifting 6,000 kg of payload into a 200 km LEO, or 4,000 kg of payload into a 500 km sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).[6][15] The first flight of Zhuque-2 occurred on 14 December 2022, but the launch vehicle failed to place its payload into orbit due to the failure of its second-stage vernier engines after the second-stage main engine shutdown. Nevertheless, with this maiden launch, Zhuque-2 became the first methane-fueled rocket to reach space. On 12 July 2023, the second flight was successful, making it the first methane-fueled launch vehicle in the world to reach orbit; this flight did not carry an active payload.[15][14] On 8 December 2023, the third Zhuque-2 mission successfully placed three satellites into a 433 by 461 kilometers sun-synchronous orbit.[16]

Zhuque-3

Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) is a two-stage, medium-to-heavy launch vehicle made of stainless steel and powered by liquid methane fuel. Equipped with nine Tianque-12B engines, five of which can gimbal and four which cannot, the first stage is designed to be recoverable and reusable for up to twenty launches. The rocket will be 76.6 meters long, 4.5 meters in diameter, and have a liftoff weight of approximately 660 tonnes. Its planned payload capacity to low Earth orbit is about 21 tonnes in expendable mode, 18.3 tonnes when the first stage is recovered downrange, and 12.5 tonnes when the first stage returns to the launch site. The maiden flight of Zhuque-3 occurred on 3 December 2025,[17] with the rocket reaching orbit, although the attempted first stage landing failed after "an abnormal combustion" occurred during the landing burn.[18]

Zhuque-1 launches

Zhuque-2 launches

Zhuque-3 launches