On September 15, 2026, the private company LandSpace launched its Zhuque-2E Y7 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This mission successfully deployed 10 satellites for the SpaceSail constellation, marking the first time a private Chinese rocket has been used for this project.
The Zhuque-2E Block 2 rocket stands 55.9 meters tall with a launch mass of 267 tons. It utilizes liquid methane and liquid oxygen as fuel. The vehicle features an upgraded design with a shared tank bulkhead and supercooled propellants to increase capacity without enlarging the tanks.
The second stage of the rocket is capable of three engine ignitions, allowing for orbital insertion, course correction, and deorbiting to reduce space debris. The rocket can carry 6 tons to low Earth orbit or 4 tons to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
The SpaceSail constellation, which aims to provide broadband internet, now consists of 248 satellites, with 22 currently inactive. This launch was the 15th batch for the network, which previously relied on state-owned Long March rockets to compete with the Starlink system.
