In a significant milestone for China’s private aerospace sector, the ZQ-2 Y3 rocket, developed by the privately-owned company LandSpace, successfully launched on Saturday morning from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province. This achievement marks the second successful flight of the ZQ-2 series rocket by LandSpace, showcasing the capability of Chinese private companies in deploying satellites into planned orbits.
The launch saw three commercial satellites placed into a sun-synchronous orbit approximately 460 kilometers above Earth. LandSpace emphasized the maturity and stability of the ZQ-2 carrier rocket, signaling a noteworthy advancement for both the company and China’s commercial aerospace industry. The Y3 designation indicates that this is the third craft in the ZQ-2 series.
The ZQ-2 Y3 boasts a total length of 49.5 meters, a diameter of 3.35 meters, a launch weight of 220 tons, and a takeoff thrust of 268 tons. Capable of placing a 1.5-ton payload into a typical sun-synchronous orbit, future models are expected to increase the payload capacity to four tons. This rocket can effectively facilitate the deployment of low earth orbit satellites and cargo spacecraft.
LandSpace’s previous achievement, the ZQ-2 Y2, completed a historic launch in July by delivering a sample payload into orbit, marking the world’s first successful launch of a methane-liquid oxygen carrier rocket. The company’s commitment to technological innovation and commercial operation models positions China as a leading player in the global space race for methane-based rockets.
The success of private aerospace companies like LandSpace has become crucial in the context of the global satellite internet race, driven by projects like the US’ Starlink. With plans exceeding 20,000 satellites and total launch scales exceeding 10,000 tons, China’s satellite internet constellation initiatives require rapid deployment capabilities provided by advanced rockets.
Zhang Changwu, CEO of LandSpace, attributed the rapid development of commercial aerospace companies in China to the country’s strong industrial system, emphasizing its completeness and large-scale production capacity. China’s industrial prowess spans raw materials, propellants, precision processing, electronic information, and electromechanical equipment required for rocket manufacturing.
LandSpace’s future prospects include the ZQ-3 reusable carrier rocket, integrating a carrier capacity of 21.3 tons for low orbit launch missions and 18.3 tons for recovery missions. The first stage of this rocket is designed for up to 20 uses, marking a transition into a new era of large capacity, reusability, and cost-effectiveness in China’s commercial aerospace sector.