Tianlong-2 (Space Pioneer)

The Tianlong-2 is a non-reusable, active launch vehicle manufactured by Space Pioneer (established in 2015). It undertook its inaugural launch on 04/02/2023.

Tianlong-2 is a medium-sized, 3 stage rocket powered by RP-1 and liquid oxygen, with payload capability of 2 tonnes to LEO and 1.5 tonnes to SSO.

Tianlong-2 has a liftoff weight of 150 tonnes, liftoff thrust of 190 tonnes and initially uses 3 YF-102 expander cycle RP-1/LOX engines on the first stage each with a thrust of 63.3 metric tonnes. The second stage uses 1 TH-11 staged combustion RP-1/LOX with a thrust of 30.6 metric tonnes. 7 TH-11 engines will be used for the 1st stage of subsequent vehicles. The third stage uses 1 TH-31 NTO/MMH hypergolic fuel engine with 3000 N thrust and 8 x 150 N RCS thrusters.

The Tianlong-2 is the first Chinese RP-1-fueled private orbital rocket to attempt an orbital flight.