By 
July 13th, 2023
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China’s LandSpace group launched its liquid oxygen and liquid methane-powered booster from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu Province, China, on July 12.
Commenting on the launch that placed it successfully into orbit, Dai Zheng, deputy chief designer and deputy commander of the Zhuque-2 carrier rocket mission, told GLOBALink/China Central Television (CCTV):
“Liquid oxygen methane has great advantages in future application scenarios where low-cost commercial carrier rocket can be reused. This is a very useful supplement to China’s space industry, and also fills in a blank in China’s liquid oxygen-methane rocket spectrum.”
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Reusable rocketry
Dai said the rocket engine has been tested seven times for a total of 2,800 seconds, with only minor carbon buildup, making it a viable option for reusable rockets.
“The engine has worked seven times on the test bed in Huzhou for a total of 2,800 seconds with only minor carbon buildup in the end. So, from this point of view, it may take a long working time before the rocket needs to be overhauled, which is very friendly for reusable rockets,” said Dai.
ZhuQue-2 is powered by four 80-tons thrust TQ-12 liquid oxygen and liquid methane (LOX+LCH4) rocket engines.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Growing pains
The booster has gone through growing pains.
In October 2018, ZhuQue-1 was launched, but the rocket’s payload failed to reach orbit due to an issue with the third stage. LandSpace also developed the ZhuQue-2, based on its methalox TQ-11 and TQ-12 engines, whose maiden launch failed to orbit in December 2022.
Zhuque-2 became the first methalox rocket in the world to reach orbit after its second flight on July 12, 2023.
For a view of the launch, go to:
Posted in Space News
