A successful test has been conducted on the Zhuque-2 (ZQ-2) rocket, equipped with an oxygen-methane engine, according to the private Chinese aerospace company LandSpace.
Since October 2022, China has been conducting successful tests of the new liquid oxygen-methane engine TQ-15A. The first launch of a rocket with this engine took place in December 2022 but ended in failure. The second launch occurred on June 12 at China’s largest spaceport, Jiuquan, and concluded with a successful lift-off.
Compared to commonly used fuels based on a mixture of liquid oxygen with kerosene or hydrogen, methane produces very little soot during combustion. This means that engine components do not need to be cleaned of unburned fuel residues, and this type of fuel is also less expensive. Additionally, the high cooling performance of methane reduces engine heating, which enhances specific impulse.