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Launch of Methane-Powered Zhuque-2E Y2 Rocket
The Zhuque-2E Y2 rocket, designed by LandSpace Technology, ascends from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China, successfully deploying six satellites into orbit. This image is sourced from a promotional video shared on May 17, 2025. — Reuters
- Cleaner, more affordable methane fuels LandSpace’s reusable rocket initiative.
- The Beijing-based company is gearing up for the trial of its first reusable rocket later this year.
- The recent launch placed satellites into orbit primarily tied to a U.S.-sanctioned Chinese organization.
In an impressive feat, China’s LandSpace Technology successfully launched six satellites into orbit using its methane-powered Zhuque-2E Y2 rocket on Saturday. This marks a significant step for the private startup as they champion the use of more affordable and environmentally friendly fuel in developing reusable rockets.
The Zhuque-2E Y2 rocket lifted off precisely at 12:12 PM local time (04:12 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center located in northwest China. This flight was the fifth of the Zhuque-2 series, as indicated in the company’s announcement.
LandSpace made history in July 2023 by becoming the world’s first company to launch a methane and liquid oxygen rocket, outpacing competitors like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
In recent years, the interest in methane-fueled launch vehicles has surged because they are considered less polluting, safer, and more cost-efficient compared to traditional hydrocarbons, making them ideal for reusable rockets.
As part of its mission to enhance its rocket’s capabilities, LandSpace has increased payload capacity to meet the rising demand in China’s commercial space sector. This growth arises from intensifying competition to establish satellite networks as alternatives to Musk’s Starlink.
While the inaugural methane-powered launch in late 2023 didn’t carry operational satellites, the subsequent launch successfully placed three satellites into orbit. This latest mission deployed six satellites, mostly developed by the Chinese company Spacety, also referred to as the Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute.
Li Xiaoming, the Vice President of the institute, revealed in a livestream prior to takeoff that the payload consisted of a radar satellite, two multispectral satellites, and three experimental satellites, with weights ranging from 44 to 660 pounds.
Advancements in Reusable Rockets
The three satellites aimed at research will support China’s aspirations in deep-space exploration, while the multispectral satellites are designated for environmental monitoring and mineral resource identification, respectively, according to Li.
The radar satellite is equipped for all-weather Earth observation, capable of capturing images regardless of time of day and can see through clouds or rain. It also possesses precision capabilities to detect minute shifts in the Earth’s surface, making it incredibly useful for monitoring urban development, transportation, and energy infrastructure.
Spacety faced U.S. sanctions from the Treasury Department earlier this year due to alleged transfers of radar satellite imagery to a Russian firm, which the U.S. claimed supported combat operations in Ukraine. Spacety has denied these allegations, stating that its operations are purely civilian and commercial.
Reusable rocket technology, pioneered by SpaceX, has proven effective in reducing launch costs and improving efficiency. LandSpace’s founder and CEO, Zhang Changwu, mentioned that the company has started developing reusable rockets and plans to conduct a test launch in the latter half of 2025.
The newest model in the Zhuque-2 series includes advancements that will facilitate the company’s goal of launching a reusable rocket. Notably, Saturday’s takeoff marked the first instance where LandSpace employed a propulsion method that involves chilling both liquid oxygen and methane below their boiling points, thereby enhancing thrust.
Since 2014, when the Chinese government opened the commercial space sector to private investments, several companies, including LandSpace, have rapidly entered the field. Founded in 2015, LandSpace has attracted significant investment from various sources, including the venture capital firm HongShan and the state-supported China SME Development Fund.
Recently, the company secured 900 million yuan (approximately $120 million) from a state-run fund aimed at advanced manufacturing, and it also raised 1.2 billion yuan (around $170 million) in 2020, according to Chinese financial records.
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