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The launch comes less than a year after the failed initial launch of Zhuque-2. After its second launch in July, it recovered and successfully entered orbit. However, this
The launch comes less than a year after the failed initial launch of Zhuque-2. After its second launch in July, it recovered and successfully entered orbit. However, this launch involved only a mass simulator, not an active payload.
The 162-foot-long (49.5 meters) Zhuque-2 uses methane and liquid oxygen as fuel and became the first such rocket to reach orbit, ahead of Relativity Space’s Terran and SpaceX’s Starship rockets, which made their second test launches over the weekend. with spectacular failure.
As Landspace’s Zhuque-2 pathfinder moved vertically on the launch pad earlier this week, preparations were underway ahead of the third flight of the only methane-powered rocket ever to reach orbit.
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— Harry Stranger (@Harry__Stranger) 12 November 2023
Launch preparations were seen via satellite images at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The company built its own launch pad in Jiuquan to lighten the metalox rocket. This week, company management announced that the launch is scheduled for December 5 at 7:30 a.m. Beijing time (23:30 GMT or December 4 at 20:30 ET).
The success of Zhuque-2 and Space Pioneer’s Tianlong-2 rockets in April marked a turning point in the development of China’s commercial launches. The two rockets were the first liquid-fueled rockets developed by Chinese startups to reach orbit. Until then, all other orbital launches by commercial launch companies had been smaller and simpler solid-state rockets.
The third Zhuque-2 mission may not be Metalox’s only mission launched before the end of the year. SpaceX launched its massive Starship on its second test flight, and United Launch Alliance is preparing for the maiden flight of its new Vulcan Centaur.
Source: Port Altele
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