China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the country’s main space contractor, conducted a major test of a new rocket engine on Sunday, producing the highest thrust ever recorded in a Chinese liquid engine test.
During the joint ignition test at the Propulsion Test Facility in Fengxian County, Shanxi Province, four engines were assembled and simultaneously started to test the design and performance of the propulsion system in the new model of the launch vehicle. CASC branch in Shanxi and to the Aerospace Propulsion Technology Academy, which produces liquid propellant rocket engines in China.
The new engine is the latest option in the YF-100 series, the academy said in a press release. They use liquid oxygen and kerosene and each has 130 tons. The four engines produced a combined weight of more than 500 tons in the test, which is more complex than any other liquid-propellant engine in the past.
Li Bin, vice president of the Xi’an Academy and chief designer of the oxygen/liquid kerosene engine, said after Sunday’s test that engineers are investigating the performance compatibility between the four engines and their operational reliability in a simulated take-off scenario.
The results show that the new machine model works well and is ready for real use.
According to the designer, the new engine will be responsible for carrying a new rocket model in the Long March family, the country’s main flight vehicle fleet.
China tests new rocket engine, achieving biggest thrust power
