Zhuque-2 Rocket Launches Two Satellites in Landmark Mission

On June 9, 2026, LandSpace Technology Corporation’s upgraded Zhuque-2E Y6 rocket successfully lifted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Experimental Zone at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, deploying two satellites into predetermined orbit. The mission marks a historic first: a Chinese private commercial aerospace company serving as the primary launch provider for a national satellite internet project, according to China News Service.

A Milestone for China’s Commercial Space Sector

The Zhuque-2E Y6, the eighth flight of the Zhuque-2 series and the second flight of the upgraded Block 2 variant, carried the Qianfan DTC 01 satellite — operated by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. — and the China Mobile 02 satellite, operated by China Mobile Communications Group. The two payloads are designed to conduct technical verification experiments for direct mobile phone-to-satellite connectivity and space-ground network integration, The Paper reported.

Unlike previous commercial launches that carried scattered payloads, this mission represents a strategic shift. As 科创板日报 (Sci-Tech Innovation Board Daily) noted, private rockets have now been incorporated into the national aerospace strategic mission system, becoming a key force supporting the large-scale networking of low-orbit constellations.

Technical Innovations on Display

The ZQ-2E Y6 rocket, with a diameter of 3.35 meters and a fairing diameter of 4.2 meters, boasts a low Earth orbit capacity of 6 tons and a 500 km sun-synchronous orbit capacity of 4 tons, making it China’s largest operational methalox (liquid oxygen/methane) medium-lift launch vehicle, according to CCTV Science Channel.

Several key engineering improvements were introduced on this flight:

• Pneumatic push-rod stage separation: Replacing traditional pyrotechnic bolts with a system identical to that used on the upcoming Zhuque-3 reusable rocket, improving safety and testability
• 3D-printed engine frame: A hollow truncated cone with Y-shaped main beam design, reducing weight, cost, and manufacturing time
• 50% throttle capability: The second-stage engine can now throttle down to 50%, providing a smoother ride for sensitive payloads
• Self-developed regulator controller: Reducing dependence on foreign supply chains

These innovations demonstrate a deliberate technology pathway, with the Zhuque-2E serving as a testbed for technologies that will be critical for the reusable Zhuque-3 rocket.

Accelerating the Qianfan Constellation

The launch was the fourth for the Qianfan constellation in June 2026 alone, signaling China’s push to rapidly build out its rival to SpaceX’s Starlink. Just days earlier, on June 4 and 5, the constellation surpassed 200 satellites in orbit following two rapid “one rocket, 18 satellites” launches using state-owned Long March rockets.

Qianfan, also known as the Spacesail or G60 Starlink constellation, is operated by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology and plans to deploy over 15,000 satellites, with Phase 1 targeting 1,296 satellites. Previous launches relied exclusively on state-owned rockets from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). This mission marks the first time a private rocket has been entrusted with a national satellite internet payload.

Strategic Implications

The mission represents a maturation of China’s commercial space industry. LandSpace now serves three distinct customer types: government programs, commercial constellations like Qianfan, and state-owned enterprises like China Mobile. As an aerospace engineer told 科创板日报, this is similar to the synergy between SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy — but LandSpace is taking a more compact route by using the same propellant, separation mechanism, and ground processes across both medium and heavy rockets.

LandSpace is also pursuing a dual-launch service model, proposing the Zhuque-2E (6-ton LEO capacity) alongside the future reusable Zhuque-3 (targeting 20-ton LEO capacity) as a family of launch solutions. The company can currently produce 4-6 Zhuque-2 rockets annually and is a candidate for the “Qingzhou” cargo spacecraft launch contract, targeting a first flight in 2027.

What’s Next

With four successful flights out of five for the ZQ-2E variant, LandSpace has demonstrated operational maturity and a rapid 26-day turnaround between its last two launches. The company continues to pursue an IPO on Shanghai’s STAR Market, seeking 75 billion yuan (~$10.4 billion) to fund reusable rocket technology and capacity expansion, though the application is currently in a procedural suspension pending updated financial documents.

As China accelerates its satellite internet ambitions, the question is no longer whether private companies can participate in national space infrastructure — but how quickly they can scale to meet the demand.