LandSpace

LandSpace Technology Corporation

Company type	Private
Industry	Aerospace, Commercial space launch services
Founded	2015 (2015)
Founder	Zhang Changwu
Headquarters	Beijing , China
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Zhang Changwu (Founder)
Products	Zhuque-1, Zhuque-2, Zhuque-3 launch vehicles

LandSpace Technology Corporation, operating under the trade name LandSpace, is a private Chinese company specializing in commercial space launch services, with its headquarters located in Beijing. Established in 2015 by Zhang Changwu, the firm dedicates its efforts to creating cutting-edge launch vehicles aimed at competing within the international aerospace industry.

In July 2023, LandSpace achieved a significant breakthrough when its Zhuque-2 rocket became the first-ever methane-fueled launch vehicle to successfully reach orbit, accomplishing this feat on its second mission. The company has set forth an ambitious launch agenda, targeting three Zhuque-2 flights in 2024 and six more in 2025, with the objective of expanding its footprint and reinforcing its standing in the commercial spaceflight sector.

History

Founded in 2015 following China's 2014 policy reform allowing private investment in space activities, LandSpace established critical aerospace facilities in Zhejiang, including a $1.5 billion liquid rocket assembly and testing complex in Jiaxing and an intelligent manufacturing hub situated in Huzhou.

The company's inaugural launch vehicle was Zhuque-1, a solid-propellant rocket. Its first flight occurred on 27 October 2018 but failed to achieve orbit due to issues during the third stage. Subsequently, LandSpace developed Zhuque-2, a liquid-fueled rocket that made history on 12 July 2023 by becoming the world’s first methane-powered vehicle to reach orbit on its second flight.

Zhuque-1

The Zhuque-1 (ZQ-1, ), also known as LandSpace-1 or LS-1, is a three-stage solid-fuel rocket standing tall with a diameter of 1.35 meters. It is believed to utilize rocket engines derived from the DF-26 missile technology. With a launch mass of , Zhuque-1 generates thrust of and can deliver payloads up to into low Earth orbit (LEO).

Its maiden flight took place on 27 October 2018 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, carrying the Weilai-1 satellite commissioned by China Central Television. Although the initial stages performed successfully, failure in the third stage prevented orbital insertion. This mission marked the first attempt by a Chinese private entity to launch an orbital rocket.

Following this flight, the supplier of solid motors terminated their contract with LandSpace, casting uncertainty over Zhuque-1’s continuation. Consequently, LandSpace redirected its focus toward developing the methane-powered Zhuque-2.

Zhuque-2

The Zhuque-2 (ZQ-2) is a medium-class liquid-fueled rocket utilizing a combination of liquid oxygen and methane as propellants. It is capable of placing payloads up to into LEO or up to into a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). Originally slated for launch in 2020, its debut was postponed to December 2022. The initial flight on 14 December 2022 did not reach orbit due to engine problems during the second stage but nonetheless represented the first methane-fueled rocket reaching space. On its second flight on 12 July 2023, Zhuque-2 successfully achieved orbit without carrying an active payload, becoming the first methane-powered launch vehicle worldwide to do so. The third mission on 8 December 2023 deployed three satellites into sun-synchronous orbit successfully. LandSpace intends to conduct three launches of Zhuque-2 in 2024 and six more in 2025.

Zhuque-3

Currently under development, Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) is a two-stage medium-to-heavy lift vehicle constructed from stainless steel and powered by liquid methane engines. Its reusable first stage is equipped with nine Tianque-12B engines and is designed for up to twenty reuses. The rocket measures 76.6 meters in length and has a diameter of 4.5 meters, with a liftoff mass near 660 tonnes. In expendable configuration, it aims to deliver approximately 21 tonnes to LEO; this capacity decreases to around 18.3 tonnes when recovering downrange and further reduces to about 12.5 tonnes for return-to-launch-site recovery operations. The inaugural flight is planned for 2025, with first-stage recovery targeted within that year and full reusability anticipated by 2026.

On 19 January 2024, LandSpace executed a successful vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL) test of the Zhuque-3 VTVL-1 prototype at Jiuquan, reaching an altitude of 350 meters and achieving landing precision within roughly 2.4 meters. Additionally, the company aims to develop a full-flow staged combustion engine rated at approximately 200 tonnes thrust (BF-20) by around 2028 for future iterations of Zhuque-3.

A subsequent VTVL test occurred on 11 September 2024 at Jinquan, lasting nearly 200 seconds and surpassing an altitude of ten kilometers. This flight featured pioneering demonstrations for Chinese manufacturers such as mid-air engine shutdown and restart during descent phases, utilizing cold gas thrusters for attitude control alongside grid fins for aerodynamic maneuvering. The test vehicle touched down within about 1.7 meters of its designated pad approximately 3.2 kilometers from liftoff.

The maiden orbital mission for Zhuque-3 is expected during Q4 of 2025. That year will also see it launching the reusable Haolong cargo space shuttle, developed by Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute (AVIC) and selected by the CMSA as one of two cost-efficient resupply spacecraft for the Tiangong Space Station. Moreover, Zhuque-3 will commence missions supporting China’s Guowang broadband megaconstellation during this period.

Zhuque-1 Missions

Vehicle & Serial	Flight Number	Launch Date	Payload Description	Target Orbit	Launch Facility	Result	Additional Information
Zhuque-1	Y1	27 October 2018, 08:00 UTC	Weilai-1 ('Future-1') satellite	LEO	Jiuquan	Template:Failure	Comprised of three solid-propellant stages; encountered malfunction during third stage.

Zhuque-3 Missions

Vehicle & Serial	Flight Number	Scheduled Date	Payload Description	Target Orbit	Launch Facility	Result	Additional Information
Zhuque-3	Demonstration flight	NET Q4 2025			Jiuquan	To be determined	Maiden flight of the Zhuque-3 rocket.

Competitive Landscape

LandSpace operates alongside a number of Chinese aerospace startups, including LinkSpace, Galactic Energy, ExPace, i-Space, OneSpace, and Deep Blue Aerospace.