China has made significant progress on a powerful rocket engine to power its new reusable rockets. A 130-ton-thrust, reusable kerosene-liquid oxygen engine passed two consecutive ground ignition tests on Sunday (April 14), marking a major milestone in the development of the nation’s reusable rocket program.
The tests were conducted by the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology (AAPT) under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) in Shaanxi province, north China.
The engine, which builds on the YF-100 engine used on China’s Long March 5, 6, 7, and 8 rockets, has multiple-start and variable thrust capability, providing greater control during rocket launches and landings.
Zhou Xianqi, a researcher with AAPT, emphasized the importance of safety and reliability in reusable engine design and the extensive testing conducted to ensure these requirements are met.
The new engine is expected to power the Long March 10 rocket, which is designed for human spaceflight missions, including future crewed missions to the moon. A first test flight of the rocket could come as early as next year, and the latest test milestone is a significant boost to China’s plans to put its astronauts on the moon before 2030.
In addition to the development of its reusable rocket engine, China is also working on a reusable rocket prototype that recently passed a launch-and-landing test. The country is also planning to debut new Long March rockets in 2024.
These advancements underscore China’s growing capabilities in space exploration and its ambitious plans for the future.
