Sign In
Learn bits
Science & Tech.
Mahesh

18/07/23 07:30 AM IST

China beats US, Europe, India to launch 1st methane-powered rocket to space

In News
  • A private Chinese company launched the World’s first methane-fuelled space rocket into orbit named “Zhuque-2”.
About Zhuque-2
  • A methane-powered rocket, also known as Methalox, uses methane as the fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer.
  • It operates based on the same principles as traditional launch vehicles but differs in terms of propellant choice and certain design considerations.
  • The Zhuque-2 is a Chinese orbital class launching vehicle developed by Landscape.
  • It is liquid-fuelled rocket powered by liquid oxygen and liquid methane (methalox).
  • It is first methane-fuelled rocket to reach orbit.
  • Zhuque-2 has a liftoff weight of 216 metric tons and uses 4 TQ-12 methalox engines in the first stage with a thrust of 67 metric tonnes.
  • The second stage utilizes one optimized TQ-12 with a thrust of 80 metric tonnes in combination with an 8 metric tonnes thrust TQ-11 engine which acts as a vernier thruster.
  • Zhuque-2 has a capability of lifting 6,000 kg of payload into a 200 km low Earth orbit and 4,000 kg of payload into a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit.
  • Zhuque-2 has also been launched on 14 December 2022 but it was a failure.
Source- ANI

More Related Current Affairs View All

06 Aug

Hong Kong regulating and licensing stablecoins

'Hong Kong is taking a decisive step forward in regulating certain types of cryptocurrencies, as it prepares to enforce the Stablecoins Ordinance from August 1.' The new regulat

Read More

06 Aug

Money laundering

'A report submitted by the Finance Minister in the Rajya Sabha states that 5,892 cases were taken up by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Ac

Read More

06 Aug

Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS)

'Recently, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced that an eight-member police team was despatched to Croatia for a “joint patrol mission.” This woul

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps