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China launches world's first methalox-powered rocket
11:10, 12-Jul-2023
China launches ZQ-2 Y2, the world's first methalox-powered rocket, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, July 12, 2023. /CGTN
China's Zhuque-2 has become the world's first rocket using methalox as propellant to successfully fly into orbit, marking a major breakthrough in the cutting-edge technology previously dominated by the U.S. SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Codenamed "ZQ-2 Y2," the rocket, the second in the series, was launched Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gobi Desert.
The success of this mission has verified the various schemes of the rocket and laid a solid foundation for the development of reusable rockets in the next stage, according to its developer, LandSpace, a Chinese private space launch provider.
The rocket uses liquid methane as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidizer. They are reusable, nontoxic and powerful, and central to recyclable rockets.
The carrier rocket has a two-stage configuration, with a diameter of 3.35 meters, a height of 49.5 meters, a takeoff weight of 219 tonnes and a takeoff thrust of 268 tonnes.
This is the second test flight of Zhuque-2 after a failed attempt last December. The current mission took a number of improvement measures and verified their effectiveness through simulation, ground tests and engine test.
LandSpace said that after the success of the test flight, they will further optimize the rocket, accumulate experiences for its reliability and safety, and lay the foundation to provide low-cost and high-performance products for the market.
11:10, 12-Jul-2023
China launches ZQ-2 Y2, the world's first methalox-powered rocket, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, July 12, 2023. /CGTN
China's Zhuque-2 has become the world's first rocket using methalox as propellant to successfully fly into orbit, marking a major breakthrough in the cutting-edge technology previously dominated by the U.S. SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Codenamed "ZQ-2 Y2," the rocket, the second in the series, was launched Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gobi Desert.
The success of this mission has verified the various schemes of the rocket and laid a solid foundation for the development of reusable rockets in the next stage, according to its developer, LandSpace, a Chinese private space launch provider.
The rocket uses liquid methane as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidizer. They are reusable, nontoxic and powerful, and central to recyclable rockets.
The carrier rocket has a two-stage configuration, with a diameter of 3.35 meters, a height of 49.5 meters, a takeoff weight of 219 tonnes and a takeoff thrust of 268 tonnes.
This is the second test flight of Zhuque-2 after a failed attempt last December. The current mission took a number of improvement measures and verified their effectiveness through simulation, ground tests and engine test.
LandSpace said that after the success of the test flight, they will further optimize the rocket, accumulate experiences for its reliability and safety, and lay the foundation to provide low-cost and high-performance products for the market.
China launches world's first methalox-powered rocket
China's Zhuque-2 has become the world's first rocket using methalox as propellant to successfully fly into orbit, marking a major breakthrough in the cutting-edge technology previously dominated by the U.S. SpaceX and Blue Origin.
news.cgtn.com