China successfully launched the Zhuque-2E Y5 carrier rocket on Thursday from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, marking another milestone for the country’s growing private space sector. The successful mission reinforces China’s ambitions to expand its commercial presence in the global space industry.
The Zhuque-2E Y5 (ZQ-2E Y5) rocket lifted off at 11:00 a.m. Beijing time and completed its mission after the second stage entered its preset orbit as planned. Developed by LandSpace, one of China’s leading private aerospace firms, the mission carried a 2.8-tonne customized test payload into a 900-kilometer orbit, demonstrating the company’s continued progress in commercial launch services.
The mission highlights the operational capabilities of the Zhuque-2E, a methane-liquid oxygen-powered launch vehicle designed for efficient and cost-effective satellite deployment. The successful insertion of the payload into its designated orbit underscores the rocket’s growing reliability and its potential role in supporting future commercial and scientific missions.
