China is making significant strides toward establishing a research base on the moon by 2030. A pivotal milestone was reached on Friday when a new engine system designed for future lunar missions passed its ground test successfully.
The advanced system, consisting of three YF-100K engines, is slated to be integrated into the first stage of the Long March-10 rocket. This three-and-a-half-stage marvel is engineered to carry over 27 tonnes of payload to the Earth-to-moon transfer orbit, a substantial increase compared to the Long March-5 currently in use.
For context, the Long March-5 facilitated the Chang'e-6 mission by transporting over 8 tonnes to the moon. The recent test, reported by China Media Group (CMG), was the largest-scale engine test ever conducted for a Chinese rocket under development. During this test, the engines achieved a ground thrust of 382 tonnes, which is 1.6 times greater than the previous largest test.
The Long March-10 stands an impressive 92.5 meters tall and weighs approximately 2,189 tonnes at liftoff. It boasts a powerful thrust of 2,678 tonnes, enabling it to deliver heavier payloads to the moon with greater efficiency. The next phase in the Long March-10's development is another ground test of the first-stage propulsion system, scheduled to take place soon.
These advancements underscore China's commitment to expanding its presence in lunar exploration and solidifying its position in the global space arena.
Reference(s):
China's moon missions: New rocket engine system passes ground test
cgtn.com
