According to ATMHUFK's live broadcast, if the launch is in Wenchang and full potential is to be realized, the landing area will be in the Philippines.
China's Space Program Thread II
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
they plan to build another pad for SSO
Not an expert on spaceflight, but it seems to me that ZQ-3, especially the uprated version can be optimal for the ruturn to the landing site RTLS type landing. Judging by the velocity of the first stage during the start of landing burn, which IMO seems higher compared to Falcon 9. Stainless steel body, Strakes, and lack of common bulkhead might have for sure increased the weight of the rocket. I had expected that the increased frontal area of ZQ3 compared to that of 3.7 m diameter might compensate for the heavy body. But it does look like, the terminal velocity wont get any lower than F9 based on the aerodynamic drag.
So,in the future iteration of ZQ3E,you will have heavier engines, and extra weight due to the extended length of the first stage. So the landing stage will be more heavier, meaning higher terminal velocity, if the diameter stays the same. So why not lengthen the second stage, which by the way has common bulkhead and probably does not need internal ribs and stinger? It would reduce the stress on the firststage,and the first stage since it does not has to go farther, can return back to the launch site with reduced fuel consumption. Second stage, which is very light can do much of the work of putting payload to satellite. Very similar to Falcon 9, but more advantageous for ZQ3, because you can just use laser welded stainless body, instead of liithium aluminum alloy, theoritically higher isp of methalox engine,can potential use of gaseous methane for altitude control. Sorry for this geeky rant!
Expected, since They are contracted to launch Qianfan in Q1 2026 (unsure if they can meet this date, it's also going to a slightly different orbit, but nothing that a small dogleg can't fix), it'll be interesting to see where it's built, since at typical downrange landing distance, it'll have to either be in Mongolia or on the tibetan plateau! I wouldn't be surprised if they have to do a partial boostback burn to bring it closer to Jiuquan, with expected performances impact...
Is the launch in Q1 going to even be a ZQ-3? I think it's still going to be ZQ-2Es
ZQ-2E can't launch 18 qianfan gen 1 sats to polar orbit, which is what Landspace is contracted to launch.
They do have Zhuque-2E expected in the near future (maybe carrying 1st operational satellites of the Hongqing Honghu constellation - maybe) however.
Last edited:
Jiuquan LC won't let you do the RTLS, plus it will burn much more fuel compare to the "not far enough" downrange pad. It is faster than the F9 when landing burn started, sources estimated the stage was in super/trans sonic range. while F9 typically start the landing burn at 0.7 Ma.
Yellow line is the V/T line of the first stage.
View of the ZQ-3 1st stage rocket booster crash site. Looks like the engineering teams at LandSpace will have to largely depend on the real-time data transmitted from the rocket booster and external observations to investigate and resolve the problems.
Posted by @人畜无害遥感星 on Weibo.
Posted by @人畜无害遥感星 on Weibo.
Last edited: