China's LandSpace launches upgraded liquid-propelled ZQ-2E

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An upgraded ZQ-2E Y5 carrier rocket was launched from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in the country's northwest on May 14, 2026. /LandSpace

Chinese private aerospace company LandSpace launched its upgraded ZQ-2E Y5 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in the country's northwestern region on Thursday, China Media Group reported.

The rocket lifted off at 11 a.m., delivering a 2.8-tonne customized test payload into a 900-kilometer orbit.

The ZQ-2E Y5 is a refined iteration of the Zhuque-2, the world's first liquid oxygen-methane rocket to reach orbit. This upgraded model features a lengthened first-stage tank and a 15% increase in propellant loading through sub-cooled filling technology. These enhancements provide the necessary power to lift 6 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit and 4 tonnes to a 500-km Sun-Synchronous Orbit, establishing its capacity to serve as a primary vehicle for future constellation deployment.

A major highlight of this mission was the validation of autonomous "smart" flight systems. The rocket's first-stage engines are now equipped with in-flight fault diagnosis and thrust self-correction capabilities.

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China's LandSpace launches upgraded liquid-propelled ZQ-2E to verify constellation capability