In a groundbreaking achievement, a Chinese company has secured its place in history by launching satellites using rockets powered by methane and liquid oxygen, surpassing renowned Western competitors, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The Zhuque 2 Y-3, developed by the private aerospace company LandSpace in Beijing, took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China at 7:39 am on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in the space exploration arena.
Liquid-Powered Rocket Commercialization
The three satellites, Honghu, Honghu 2, and TY-33, were successfully deployed into the planned orbit, showcasing the prowess of the Zhuque 2 Y-3. LandSpace emphasized that this launch pioneered a new stage for the commercialization of launching liquid-powered rockets in China, demonstrating the reliability and stability of this cutting-edge technology.
The company expressed its commitment to advancing space exploration capabilities, stating, “We will continuously create highly reliable, cost-effective, and high-capacity commercial launch rocket products.” According to LandSpace, the key to achieving true industrialization and commercialization of liquid rockets lies in realizing low-cost, large-scale manufacturing and delivery, ensuring continuous and stable launch success.
LandSpace revealed that the Honghu and TY-33 satellites, developed by Chinese start-up Spacety, along with the Honghu 2 satellite built by start-up Hongqing Technology, were successfully placed into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 460 kilometers (285 miles). The rocket itself measured an impressive 49.5 meters (162 feet) in length, with a diameter of 3.35 meters and a weight of 220 tonnes at lift-off, excluding the payloads.
Looking ahead, LandSpace has ambitious plans to further establish itself as a major player in the space industry. The company aims to launch three more rockets annually, doubling the number to achieve 12 launches in 2026. This trajectory underscores China’s commitment to advancing its capabilities in space exploration and technology.
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China’s LandSpace Rockets to Success
LandSpace’s success with methane-fueled rockets aligns with the advantages highlighted by NASA. Methane, a more stable and denser alternative to liquid hydrogen, the most common rocket fuel, offers the ability to be stored at more manageable temperatures.
This characteristic enables the use of smaller tanks, contributing to the efficiency and practicality of rocket design. LandSpace’s accomplishment comes in the wake of several setbacks faced by U.S.-based companies attempting similar feats.
SpaceX’s Starship and Relativity Space’s Terran 1, both using liquid oxygen methane rockets, encountered failures in their attempts to reach orbit earlier this year.
This latest achievement reinforces China’s growing influence in the space exploration landscape and positions LandSpace as a pioneering force in advancing rocket technology on the global stage.
The successful launch not only marks a historic moment for Chinese space exploration but also signifies a leap forward in the broader commercialization of liquid-powered rockets.
As the space race continues to evolve, LandSpace’s triumph sets a new standard for innovation in satellite launch technology.
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