It has recently been tested a new Chinese solid rocket, creating more propulsion options for the Asian country’s growing space activities.
The engine of the new Chinese solid propellant rocket was ignited on October 19 (Tuesday) at a site near the city of Xi’an in northern China, going to run for 115 seconds, creating a tremendous trail of flames and gas. I unload.
The new engine was developed by the Academy of Aerospace Solid Propulsion Technology (AASPT) which belongs to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the country’s leading space contractor.
The engine has a diameter of 3.5 meters (11.48 ft) and a maximum thrust of 500 tons (about 1,102,311 lbs) of force, powered by 150 tons (330,000 lbs) of solid fuel. As proof that the numbers of this new Chinese solid fuel rocket are monstrous, a declaration of the CASC stated that is the most powerful solid rocket engine with the largest thrust in the world, until now.
It has also demonstrated multiple cutting-edge technologies, according to CASC, including a high-performance fiber composite shell, integral combustion chamber and oversized nozzle, to make it a highly advanced rocket engine.
“The tests were very successful. We tested all parameters, including the 500-ton thrust which worked for 115 seconds “
he has declared Ren Quanbin, president of AASPT.
“We are internationally advanced in the field of large solid rocket engines. Next, we will develop a 1,000-ton solid rocket engine to provide stronger thrust for Chinese rockets in the future “
Ren later added to CCTV.
Future use of the new Chinese solid rocket
CASC says the rocket engine should be used with heavy rockets to meet various launch vehicle demands during space missions such as manned moon landings and deep space exploration. China is already developing the Long March 9 and another large rocket to launch astronauts for manned lunar missions, none of which include solid boosters.
China has made great progress on solid propellant rockets in recent years, including the successful development and launch of the Long March 11, which can be launched from land or sea. AASPT also tested a solid (3.2m) diameter motor in December 2020.
However, the new engine is much larger and could be added to launch vehicles to produce extra thrust. It could also be used by CASC’s commercial spin-off China Rocket, which develops Jielong solid rockets for launching commercial satellites.
China is also planning to launch its first rocket that combines liquid-fueled center stages with solid side boosters. The Long March 6A could be launched later this year.
CASIC, another giant Chinese state-owned enterprise similar to CASC and with its own space aspirations, is also developing solid rockets small and large.
This comes at a time when many countries and companies, including China itself, are developing reusable liquid propellant rockets. After the first stages have done their work, the engines of these new launchers are able to re-ignite to drive the first stage to a landing area and burn once again to perform an enhanced descent and vertical landing. In this way the rockets can be recovered and reused, reducing launch costs.
Solid rockets, however, cannot be controlled in the same way and, once ignited, burn until the propellant is exhausted. However, they are simpler than liquid rockets and offer their own cost and production advantages.
China’s new solid fuel engine However, it is not the largest nor the most powerful solid fuel engine ever tested. In the 1960s, Aerojet developed and tested the SL-260, with “260” referring to its diameter in inches, or 21.60 feet (6.60 m).
It was designed for NASA to demonstrate the feasibility of using large SRMs for space exploration, but was not used.
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