China's largest and most powerful special carrier missile will perform its first flight next year, according to the developer's statement. The fluid-fueled ZQ 2 rocket is currently being developed in Beijing by LandSpace, one of China's leading missile manufacturers. LandSpace officials announced that many parts of the missile have been produced, and that many firing tests have been carried out on the two engine models that will fire the missile at the end of August.
The 49,5-meter ZQ 2, according to the manufacturer's data, will have a diameter of 3,35 meters, like most missiles from China's Long Walk series, and weigh 216 tons at take-off. It will be activated by the LandSpace TQ-12, the first of its kind in China.
The ZQ 2 will be capable of carrying 4-ton satellites into simultaneous orbit 500 kilometers from the earth or a 6-ton satellite to an orbit 200 kilometers from the earth. Landspace executives emphasized that the primary task of the rocket would be to carry many small satellites and payloads to a solar-synchronous orbit, and stated that many companies from inside and outside the country were interested in the missile and applied to the manufacturer for information.
LandSpace raised 2 billion yuan (10 million euros) from more than 1,2 public and private participation funds in the first phase to fund the ZQ 148 Program, providing the highest funding for a Chinese private space firm of all time.
Source:Chinese Radio International
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