China’s reusable rocket engine tech ‘at practical stage’ after second test flight
- It was recently put to the test in a launch – the first time China had reused a rocket engine, according to its developer
- The engine can be used for vertical take-off and landing and is similar to those used by SpaceX on its Falcon 9 rockets
The liquid oxygen and kerosene rocket engine was recently put to the test in a launch and returned to Earth safely, the Xian Aerospace Propulsion Institute said in a statement posted on its WeChat social media account on Tuesday.
No further details of the flight were given, but the institute said it was the first time China had reused a rocket engine. The institute is a subsidiary of the state-run China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
The engine was first used as the main power system for a launch in 2021, and following inspection and maintenance after its return it was reassembled for the latest flight.
“This successful verification means that our engine reuse technology has entered the practical stage. That enables us to pay more attention to the high reliability, low cost and high performance of the engine,” Zhang Xiaojun, head of the institute, was quoted as saying in a China News Service report on Wednesday.
China has played a leading role in developing air-breathing engines for hypersonic flight but had lagged behind on reusable rockets using traditional engine technology.
Liquid oxygen and kerosene rocket engines provide a main power source for space travel. Carrying their own oxygen they can function either in the air or a vacuum. They also have an advantage on thrust, the fuel is non-toxic and they create little pollution.
