LandSpace Successfully Proves Stretched Zhuque-2E Launch Vehicle (Zhuque-2E Y5) – China in Space [2026-05-14]
[
](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jUgo!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4480c56c-5952-4e7d-b87d-cee425637d08_3648x1823.jpeg)
LandSpace’s Zhuque-2E Y5 vehicle during first-stage flight from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on May 14th 2026. | Image: LandSpace
[Lifting off](https://weibo.com/6507732051/QFiVu6ynA) from Launch Area 96A at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 11:00 am China Standard Time (03:00 am Universal Coordinated Time) on May 14th, LandSpace’s Zhuque-2E performed its latest [test mission](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/6zQlLsRxq7WTAFGQrbB19g) with a flight into an almost polar orbit.
No operational satellites from customers were onboard Zhuque-2E for this flight. Instead, an approximately 2,800-kilogram inert ‘customized test load’ was installed atop of the second-stage and protected within the fairing for ascent. That test load is said to have proven the delivery of a payload [into a 900-kilometer](https://weibo.com/7604660608/QFiYH8sYU) near-polar orbit[1](#_), [with LandSpace adding](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/BSMxcJeT8Nzi8DA1xHyiQA):
> _“This marks the achievement of the capability to launch heavy payloads with the Zhuque-2E model, which now meets the technical requirements for multi-satellite launches. It provides mature and reliable launch offerings for the objectives of establishing space as a new pillar industry, accelerating the development of satellite internet, and implementing future large-scale satellite constellation deployment projects.”_
_If there are any problems with this translation please reach out and correct [me](https://linktr.ee/phazzee)._
[
](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pBRA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1bcf0a17-6f5f-4280-bd42-61d1edead384_1404x512.jpeg)
The ‘big red screen’ declaring the success of the Zhuque-2E Y5 launch mission at LandSpace’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center facility on May 14th 2026.
For today’s flight, Zhuque-2E was significantly upgraded and improved, with four significant parts [listed by LandSpace](https://weibo.com/6507732051/QFjaK3cNv):
- On the first-stage, it has been stretched by about eight meters to increase liquid methane and liquid oxygen capacity while subcooling[2](#_) both propellants, and removing four aerodynamic fins.
- The second-stage has adopted a tank pressure-based ullage system for relighting its TQ-15A engine, enabling faster deorbiting of it as well after payload deployment (and proven today).
- Across the vehicle, ‘smart’ control systems were stated to have been installed for quickly adapting to potential anomalies in real time, along with monitoring second-stage propellant status.
- And back on Earth Zhuque-2E’s transporter-erector has been lengthened to support the launch vehicle, with vehicle preparation time reduced to two weeks and fuelling taking about ninety minutes.
The stretching of the first-stage follows several upgrades across other areas of Zhuque-2E, like a common-dome second-stage and upgraded engines [in November 2024](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/zhuque-2e-soars-for-its-first-mission), and the adoption of a larger fairing alongside improved guidance [in May 2025](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-nails-second-zhuque-2e).
In addition, today’s Zhuque-2E mission served as the vehicle’s return to flight following a failed launch [back in mid-August 2025](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-experiences-in-flight-failure). The cause of that failure was found to have been [caused by an electrical arc](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-discloses-cause-of-zhuque) on the second-stage, leading to a loss of engine gimbal control and the flight termination activating shortly after. That electrical issue was fixed before LandSpace’s larger reusable launch vehicle, Zhuque-3, made it to Jiuquan for [its maiden flight in December 2025](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-successfully-debuts-zhuque).
Today’s mission was the 4th flight of Zhuque-2E, and the 7th flight of LandSpace’s Zhuque-2 series. This was also the 29th launch from China in 2026.
_Liftoff video via [LandSpace](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/BSMxcJeT8Nzi8DA1xHyiQA) and [大漠问天](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/6zQlLsRxq7WTAFGQrbB19g) on WeChat._
[
## LandSpace Experiences in-Flight Failure \[Zhuque-2E Y3\]
](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-experiences-in-flight-failure)
·
August 15, 2025
[![LandSpace Experiences in-Flight Failure [Zhuque-2E Y3]](https://lemmy.ml/api/v3/image_proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstackcdn.com%2Fimage%2Ffetch%2F%24s_%215XKA%21%2Cw_1300%2Ch_650%2Cc_fill%2Cf_auto%2Cq_auto%3Agood%2Cfl_progressive%3Asteep%2Cg_auto%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fpublic%252Fimages%252F3ef6bffd-05d7-41b4-a769-67cf1159f1c2_2160x1301.jpeg)](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-experiences-in-flight-failure)
LandSpace’s Zhuque-2E rocket departed from Launch Area 96A at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on August 15th at 09:17 am China Standard Time (01:17 am Universal Coordinated Time) heading for low Earth orbit. Sadly, the rocket did not reach its intended orbit.
_This section is for those less familiar with China’s various commercial launch vehicles._
Zhuque-2E is LandSpace’s privately-developed commercial launch vehicle, and is largely based on the company’s Zhuque-2 vehicle. The vehicle consists of two stages both burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen.
The payload capacity of the launch vehicle is currently as follows:
- 6,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit
- 4,000 kilograms to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit
[
](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FIp3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe05af3fd-8254-4ddd-b0dc-c4d7c1f28cfc_2856x2199.jpeg)
LandSpace’s Zhuque-2E Y5 vehicle at Launch Area 96A ahead of its launch mission on May 14th 2026. | Image: LandSpace / SpaceLens云上天镜
Four TQ-12A engines power the first stage to generate 338 tons of thrust while burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen. The second-stage is powered by a single TQ-15A engine, also burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen, to produce 85 tons of thrust.
On the launch pad, Zhuque-2E is 55.9 meters tall and weighs 267,000 kilograms when fully fuelled. The first-stage and second-stage, have a diameter of 3.35 meters, while the fairing has a diameter of 4.2 meters.
The Zhuque-2E Y5 vehicle during launch preparations at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. | Image: LandSpace / SpaceLens云上天镜
Thanks for reading China in Space! This post is public so feel free to share it.
[Share](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-successfully-proves-stretched?action=share)
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LandSpace’s Zhuque-2E Y5 vehicle during first-stage flight from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on May 14th 2026. | Image: LandSpace
[Lifting off](https://weibo.com/6507732051/QFiVu6ynA) from Launch Area 96A at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 11:00 am China Standard Time (03:00 am Universal Coordinated Time) on May 14th, LandSpace’s Zhuque-2E performed its latest [test mission](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/6zQlLsRxq7WTAFGQrbB19g) with a flight into an almost polar orbit.
No operational satellites from customers were onboard Zhuque-2E for this flight. Instead, an approximately 2,800-kilogram inert ‘customized test load’ was installed atop of the second-stage and protected within the fairing for ascent. That test load is said to have proven the delivery of a payload [into a 900-kilometer](https://weibo.com/7604660608/QFiYH8sYU) near-polar orbit[1](#_), [with LandSpace adding](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/BSMxcJeT8Nzi8DA1xHyiQA):
> _“This marks the achievement of the capability to launch heavy payloads with the Zhuque-2E model, which now meets the technical requirements for multi-satellite launches. It provides mature and reliable launch offerings for the objectives of establishing space as a new pillar industry, accelerating the development of satellite internet, and implementing future large-scale satellite constellation deployment projects.”_
_If there are any problems with this translation please reach out and correct [me](https://linktr.ee/phazzee)._
[
](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pBRA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1bcf0a17-6f5f-4280-bd42-61d1edead384_1404x512.jpeg)
The ‘big red screen’ declaring the success of the Zhuque-2E Y5 launch mission at LandSpace’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center facility on May 14th 2026.
For today’s flight, Zhuque-2E was significantly upgraded and improved, with four significant parts [listed by LandSpace](https://weibo.com/6507732051/QFjaK3cNv):
- On the first-stage, it has been stretched by about eight meters to increase liquid methane and liquid oxygen capacity while subcooling[2](#_) both propellants, and removing four aerodynamic fins.
- The second-stage has adopted a tank pressure-based ullage system for relighting its TQ-15A engine, enabling faster deorbiting of it as well after payload deployment (and proven today).
- Across the vehicle, ‘smart’ control systems were stated to have been installed for quickly adapting to potential anomalies in real time, along with monitoring second-stage propellant status.
- And back on Earth Zhuque-2E’s transporter-erector has been lengthened to support the launch vehicle, with vehicle preparation time reduced to two weeks and fuelling taking about ninety minutes.
The stretching of the first-stage follows several upgrades across other areas of Zhuque-2E, like a common-dome second-stage and upgraded engines [in November 2024](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/zhuque-2e-soars-for-its-first-mission), and the adoption of a larger fairing alongside improved guidance [in May 2025](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-nails-second-zhuque-2e).
In addition, today’s Zhuque-2E mission served as the vehicle’s return to flight following a failed launch [back in mid-August 2025](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-experiences-in-flight-failure). The cause of that failure was found to have been [caused by an electrical arc](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-discloses-cause-of-zhuque) on the second-stage, leading to a loss of engine gimbal control and the flight termination activating shortly after. That electrical issue was fixed before LandSpace’s larger reusable launch vehicle, Zhuque-3, made it to Jiuquan for [its maiden flight in December 2025](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-successfully-debuts-zhuque).
Today’s mission was the 4th flight of Zhuque-2E, and the 7th flight of LandSpace’s Zhuque-2 series. This was also the 29th launch from China in 2026.
_Liftoff video via [LandSpace](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/BSMxcJeT8Nzi8DA1xHyiQA) and [大漠问天](https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/6zQlLsRxq7WTAFGQrbB19g) on WeChat._
[
## LandSpace Experiences in-Flight Failure \[Zhuque-2E Y3\]
](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-experiences-in-flight-failure)
·
August 15, 2025
[![LandSpace Experiences in-Flight Failure [Zhuque-2E Y3]](https://lemmy.ml/api/v3/image_proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstackcdn.com%2Fimage%2Ffetch%2F%24s_%215XKA%21%2Cw_1300%2Ch_650%2Cc_fill%2Cf_auto%2Cq_auto%3Agood%2Cfl_progressive%3Asteep%2Cg_auto%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fpublic%252Fimages%252F3ef6bffd-05d7-41b4-a769-67cf1159f1c2_2160x1301.jpeg)](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-experiences-in-flight-failure)
LandSpace’s Zhuque-2E rocket departed from Launch Area 96A at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on August 15th at 09:17 am China Standard Time (01:17 am Universal Coordinated Time) heading for low Earth orbit. Sadly, the rocket did not reach its intended orbit.
_This section is for those less familiar with China’s various commercial launch vehicles._
Zhuque-2E is LandSpace’s privately-developed commercial launch vehicle, and is largely based on the company’s Zhuque-2 vehicle. The vehicle consists of two stages both burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen.
The payload capacity of the launch vehicle is currently as follows:
- 6,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit
- 4,000 kilograms to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit
[
](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FIp3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe05af3fd-8254-4ddd-b0dc-c4d7c1f28cfc_2856x2199.jpeg)
LandSpace’s Zhuque-2E Y5 vehicle at Launch Area 96A ahead of its launch mission on May 14th 2026. | Image: LandSpace / SpaceLens云上天镜
Four TQ-12A engines power the first stage to generate 338 tons of thrust while burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen. The second-stage is powered by a single TQ-15A engine, also burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen, to produce 85 tons of thrust.
On the launch pad, Zhuque-2E is 55.9 meters tall and weighs 267,000 kilograms when fully fuelled. The first-stage and second-stage, have a diameter of 3.35 meters, while the fairing has a diameter of 4.2 meters.
The Zhuque-2E Y5 vehicle during launch preparations at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. | Image: LandSpace / SpaceLens云上天镜
Thanks for reading China in Space! This post is public so feel free to share it.
[Share](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/landspace-successfully-proves-stretched?action=share)