Zhuque-1 Zhuque-1 (
ZQ-1, or 朱雀·南太湖号), also known as
LandSpace-1 or
LS-1, is a tall,
three-stage solid-propellant rocket with a diameter of 1.35 m. It is likely based on the
DF-26 missile's rocket motor. Zhuque-1 has a takeoff mass of , a thrust of , and can carry of payload into a
low Earth orbit (LEO). Following the launch, reports emerged that the solid rocket motor manufacturer had ended its contract with LandSpace, casting doubt on the future of Zhuque-1.
Zhuque-2 Zhuque-2 (
ZQ-2) is a medium-sized
liquid-fuelled rocket powered by
liquid oxygen and
methane capable of lifting of payload into a LEO, or of payload into a
sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). The first flight of Zhuque-2 occurred on 14 December 2022, but the launch vehicle failed to place its payload into orbit due to the failure of its second-stage vernier engines after the second-stage main engine shutdown. Nevertheless, with this maiden launch, Zhuque-2 became the first methane-fueled rocket to reach space. On 12 July 2023, the second flight was successful, making it the first
methane-fueled launch vehicle in the world to reach orbit; this flight did not carry an active payload.
Zhuque-3 Zhuque-3 (
ZQ-3) is a two-stage, medium-to-heavy launch vehicle made of stainless steel and powered by liquid methane fuel. Equipped with nine
Tianque-12B engines, five of which can gimbal and four which cannot, the first stage is designed to be recoverable and reusable for up to twenty launches. The rocket will be 76.6 meters long, 4.5 meters in diameter, and have a liftoff weight of approximately 660 tonnes. Its planned payload capacity to low Earth orbit is about 21 tonnes in expendable mode, 18.3 tonnes when the first stage is recovered downrange, and 12.5 tonnes when the first stage returns to the launch site. The maiden flight of Zhuque-3 occurred on 3 December 2025, with the rocket reaching orbit, although the attempted first stage landing failed after "an abnormal combustion" occurred during the landing burn. == Launches ==