China's LandSpace Achieves Historic Methane Rocket Launch, Successfully Deploying Satellites into Orbit

Chinese private company LandSpace successfully launched its third ZhuQue-2 rocket, marking the company's third attempt to reach orbit. The medium-sized rocket, powered by four TQ-12 liquid methane engines, has the capacity to carry up to 1.5 tons to a Sun-synchronous orbit. LandSpace plans to transition to mass production and aims to launch up to four ZhuQue-2 rockets in 2024 and up to 15 per year in the future. The company is also developing a reusable stainless steel rocket called ZhuQue-3, which could lift up to 20 tons of payload in an expendable configuration.