https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/07/zhuque-2-launch2/ it looks like the specific impulse is still too low at 284.5 seconds
"..The first stage, which features the rocket’s characteristic red bird, is powered by four TQ-12 liquid methane-liquid oxygen (methalox) engines. These are China’s first methane engines used on a launch vehicle. They are gas generator open-cycle engines, which are simpler than other new methalox engines, such as SpaceX’s Raptor or Blue Origin’s BE-4. When combined, four TQ-12 engines are referred to as a TQ-13 engine pack.
At liftoff, these engines produce a thrust of 268 tons. The whole stack has a mass of 219 tons, which brings the overall thrust-to-weight ratio to 1.22. The engines have a nozzle diameter of 1.5 meters and operate on a mixture ratio of 3.5 parts oxygen to methane by mass. The specific impulse at sea level is 284.5 seconds. .."
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Huge congratulations to LANDSPACE! History made on July 12. Zhuque-2 is now the world's first methane rocket to reach Earth's orbit.
