In a significant achievement, China's reusable rocket engine has set a new national record in repeated test runs, according to the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology. The 130-tonne reusable liquid oxygen-kerosene engine recently completed two ground ignition tests, totaling 15 repeated test runs and 30 ignitions with a cumulative test duration exceeding 3,900 seconds.
This milestone surpasses previous records for the country's liquid rocket engines and lays a strong foundation for the upcoming initial flight of China's reusable launch vehicle. Renowned for its high comprehensive performance, strong expansion capacity, and high reliability, the engine is poised to serve as the main power for China's reusable carrier rockets.
Unlike traditional one-time rockets, reusable rockets incorporate four key technologies: precise landing, stable recovery, high durability, and fast repair. These features enable the rocket to return to Earth after completing a delivery task, ignite again near the ground, and perform subsequent launch tasks with minimal repairs.
Significant efforts in research and development, design, production, and testing have been made to advance the progress of domestic reusable rocket engine development, marking a pivotal step in China's space technology evolution.
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China's reusable rocket engine achieves record repeated test runs
cgtn.com
