China's modified Zhuque-2 methalox rocket completes maiden flight

China's modified Zhuque-2 (ZQ-2) methane-powered carrier rocket has completed its maiden flight. It took off from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone in northwestern China's Gobi Desert on Wednesday, successfully sending two test satellites into orbit.

The rocket is codenamed ZQ-2E Y1, with "E" meaning "Enhanced" and "Y1" representing the first iteration of the modified version.

Its developer, LandSpace, a Chinese private space launch service provider, has previously launched three ZQ-2 rockets, coded Y1, Y2 and Y3. 

Despite the failure of the ZQ-2 Y1 in December 2022, the ZQ-2 Y2 launched in July 2023 became the world's first methane-propelled rocket to successfully fly into orbit.

The ZQ-2 Y3 launched in December 2023 was also successful. 

The enhanced ZQ-2E Y1 rocket retains the basic design of the ZQ-2, while its length has been shortened from 49.5 meters to 47.3 meters to reduce its weight. 

The rocket's new design increases its liftoff thrust to 282 tonnes from the previous 268.

The ZQ-2E Y1 has a carrying capacity of four tonnes tailored for a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.

The modified version has also achieved a series of milestones, which include shortening the fueling time to less than 1.5 hours via new technologies, improving engine performance and further optimizing the stability and reliability of rocket flight.

LandSpace said that the ZQ-2E-Y1 has been comprehensively optimized and improved and has now officially entered the commercial operation stage for mass delivery to the market.