China’s state-owned main space contractor conducted tests on five different rocket engines in one day last week to prepare for future missions and projects.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) conducted the engine tests at two sites in Beijing and Laiyuan County in Hebei Province, North China, on Jan. 2.
One of the tests involved a new hydrogen-oxygen engine for the upper stage of a rocket and lasted for 100 seconds. This test was carried out by the 101 Institute of CASC’s Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology.
“The recently completed experiment tested an upper-stage liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen engine, evaluating overall coordination and performance data. Following assessment, the test was deemed a complete success,” stated Xia Wei, an engineer at CASC, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).
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China is actively developing new liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen engines for rockets such as the Long March 10 launcher, intended for upcoming moon missions.
In Beijing, a main engine, an upper-stage engine, and a reaction and orbit control engine were also tested. It was not specified which of China’s rockets the engines were intended for.
In Laiyuan, a methane-liquid oxygen engine was successfully tested as well, though details were limited. China’s commercial launch companies like Landspace and iSpace have developed methane-fueled engines. Simultaneously, CASC is working on a powerful, full-flow staged combustion engine for its Long March 9 megarocket project. SAST, another CASC subsidiary, is also developing a methane rocket scheduled for a launch and landing test next week.
Xia mentioned that CASC will continue researching and testing multiple engines for deep-space exploration, heavy-lift rockets, and other engines pertinent to China’s major space endeavors, according to CCTV news. China may introduce a range of new Long March and commercial rockets this year, as reported by SpaceNews.
