(Yicai Global) July 13 -- LandSpace has begun developing reusable launch vehicles and will likely do a test flight in the second half of 2025, according to the founder of the private Chinese aerospace company.

LandSpace makes rocket engines and owns a launch test site, which will be used in developing reusable rockets, Zhang Changwu, who is also the firm's chief executive officer, told Yicai Global yesterday.

The Zhuque-2 carrier rocket, launched by Beijing-based LandSpace early yesterday, became the world's first methane-liquid oxygen space rocket to reach orbit. Methane-liquid oxygen costs less than traditional rocket propellants and is more suitable for reusable launch vehicles.

"China is one of the world's most competitive countries in making rockets," according to Zhang. LandSpace aims to keep the ZQ-2 launch cost at 30 percent lower than the market average or even less, Zhang added.

ZQ-2 will be more competitive in the market if its hardware costs can be kept under CNY100 million (USD14 million), Zhang pointed out. If it succeeds with reusable rockets, LandSpace's carrier service fees per kilogram will be less than that of the Falcon 9 of Elon Musk's SpaceX, Zhang noted.

Commercial space service demand will significantly push LandSpace's future development, Zhang said, adding that the firm will provide clients with services such as low-orbit satellite networking and cargo transport to space stations.

LandSpace will make unremitting efforts to upgrade its rocket-making and launch technologies, raise the transport capacity of single-use rockets, have longer takeoff windows, and enhance its competitiveness in launch services, Zhang noted.

Three to four ZQ-2 rockets will be delivered to the market next year, and the figure will double in 2025, according to Zhang.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev