Articles tagged with "space-launch"
China test-fires reusable rocket with 9 engines to challenge SpaceX
Chinese rocket startup Landspace successfully conducted a static fire test of its Zhuque-3 rocket’s first stage on June 20 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The test involved firing nine proprietary Tianque-12A methane-liquid oxygen engines sequentially for 45 seconds, producing 7,542 kN of thrust. This milestone is a key step toward Landspace’s planned orbital launch of Zhuque-3, a reusable rocket designed to compete with SpaceX’s technology. The company views this successful test as foundational for advancing China’s reusable launch vehicle capabilities. Landspace aims to launch Zhuque-3 into orbit in the third quarter of 2024, carrying a prototype of the reusable Haolong cargo spacecraft developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute under AVIC. The company has been progressing steadily since its first launch failure in 2018 with Zhuque-1, achieving a significant milestone in 2023 when Zhuque-2 became the first methane-LOX rocket to reach
energyreusable-rocketmethane-liquid-oxygenrocket-enginesspace-launchaerospace-technologyrocket-propulsionWorld’s first art-painted rocket launched into outer space by China
In a groundbreaking collaboration, contemporary artist Jacky Tsai and Chinese aerospace company LandSpace launched the world’s first fully art-painted orbital rocket, the Zhuque-2 Enhanced (ZQ-2E Y2). Standing nearly 50 meters tall, the rocket was entirely covered with vibrant aerospace-grade paints depicting the ancient Chinese legend of Chang’e flying to the moon. The artwork, which flows continuously from nose to base, integrates traditional Eastern storytelling with bold, modern visual techniques, transforming the rocket into a unified visual narrative rather than mere surface decoration. This project required innovative materials and close cooperation between artists and engineers to ensure the paint could withstand extreme launch conditions without compromising the rocket’s performance. The successful launch and orbit insertion of the ZQ-2E Y2 validated this pioneering fusion of art and aerospace engineering, proving that complex visual art can be integrated into space vehicles without affecting functionality. Painted segments recovered after stage separation serve as tangible artifacts symbolizing the intersection of science and storytelling. This initiative redefines
energyaerospacematerialsrocket-technologyaerospace-engineeringaerospace-paintsspace-launchChina’s liquid rocket engine clears major trial for cargo missions
China’s new liquid-fueled rocket engine, designed for the medium-lift Kinetica-2 launch vehicle, successfully passed a critical full-thrust test at CAS Space’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Test Center near Guangzhou. The test demonstrated stable engine performance and full-duration burn, validating the first-stage power system that will drive the core booster during liftoff. This facility is unique in China for its capability to test engines up to 200 tons of thrust and full-stage systems up to 400 tons, marking a significant advancement in China’s propulsion testing infrastructure. Kinetica-2, standing 52 meters tall with a liftoff mass of 625 metric tons and thrust capacity of 766 tons, is designed to deliver up to 12 tons to low-Earth orbit or 8 tons to a sun-synchronous orbit. Its maiden flight is scheduled for September from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, coinciding with the debut of Qingzhou, a new cargo spacecraft developed for rapid
energyrocket-engineliquid-propulsionspace-launchaerospace-technologycargo-spacecraftpropulsion-systemAmazon’s first 27 internet satellites launch to space
Amazonsatellitesspace-launchinternet-connectivityProject-Kuipertechnologyaerospace