China's Landspace Successfully Launches Methane-Powered Zhuque-2 Rocket into Orbit
Chinese private rocket firm Landspace successfully reached orbit with its methane-fueled Zhuque-2 rocket, becoming the first globally to do so. The rocket carried no payload and its first stage was not recovered. This achievement demonstrates the maturity and breakthrough in Chinese commercial space launch efforts. Landspace is now working on mass-producing the Zhuque-2 and has already begun assembling its third rocket. The company's success follows the previous achievement of Space Pioneer with its Tianlong-2 rocket. Landspace's Zhuque-2 outperforms other methalox rockets in terms of reaching orbit, and its methane-liquid oxygen propellant mix offers advantages in performance and reusability.