(Yicai) May 14 -- Chinese private rocket manufacturer LandSpace Technology has successfully tested its upgraded liquid-oxygen-methane rocket, the Zhuque-2E Y5, in a heavy payload launch, marking a key step toward enabling multiple satellite deployments in a single mission.

The rocket lifted off at 11 a.m. from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Experimental Zone at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu province. It carried a 2.8-ton customized test payload into a 900-kilometer orbit to simulate large satellite constellation deployment missions, the Beijing-based firm said today.

The Zhuque-2E Y5 builds on earlier versions of the rocket and includes several upgrades, such as an extended first stage, increased propellant load, reduced structural weight and improved first-stage engine thrust, LandScape said. These improvements boost payload capacity and overall performance, while enhancing the rocket’s ability to support multi-orbit launch requirements.

This model can carry up to four tons to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit and six tons to low Earth orbits, it said. This allows it to support a wide range of missions, including multi-satellite launches and heavy payload deployments. It can also be paired with LandSpace's next-generation reusable rocket, the Zhuque-3, to offer combined launch services.

Founded in 2015, LandSpace successfully launched the Zhuque-2 rocket in 2023, making it the first liquid oxygen-methane rocket in the world to reach orbit. In December last year, the company conducted the maiden launch of the Zhuque-3 rocket, which successfully reached orbit but did not complete its reusable technology test as planned.

LandSpace submitted an initial public offering application to the Shanghai Stock Exchange's Sci-Tech Innovation Board in the second half of last year, aiming to raise CNY7.5 billion (USD1.1 billion) to develop reusable rockets and expand production capacity.

Editor: Kim Taylor