China successfully tests Zhuque-2E rocket in latest space launch

China’s private space company LandSpace successfully conducted a test launch of its Zhuque-2E rocket on May 14 at 11:00 Beijing time (07:00 Baku time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, placing the vehicle into a near-polar orbit.

No commercial satellites were carried onboard; instead, an inert test payload of around 2,800 kg was placed in the second stage. The company said the launch confirmed the rocket’s capability to deliver payloads into a 900 km orbit and demonstrated readiness for multi-satellite missions.

Prior to the flight, the rocket underwent several upgrades, including an extended first stage with increased fuel capacity, an improved restart system for the second-stage engine, and updated control systems.

Ground infrastructure was also upgraded, reducing launch preparation time to two weeks.

This was the first Zhuque-2E launch since the August 2025 failure. It marked the fourth flight of the Zhuque-2E model, the seventh launch in the Zhuque-2 series, and China’s 29th space launch of 2026.

By Jeyhun Aghazada