Reusable Rocket Engine Tests Completed for China SpaceX-rival 'Space Pioneer'

Reusable Rocket Engine Tests Completed for China SpaceX-rival 'Space Pioneer'

The first-stage engine of the Tianlong-3 rocket has been successfully delivered for its first flight in July 2024. On March 21, 2024, Tianbing Technology, also known as Space Pioneer,  announced that the large liquid carrier rocket Tianlong-3's first stage, equipped with 9 "Tianhuo-12" engines, has completed calibration and hot testing, setting a solid foundation for the rocket's maiden flight. The Tianlong-3 rocket, developed by Tianbing Technology, has a diameter of 3.8 meters, a total length of 71 meters, a takeoff mass of 590 tons, and a liftoff thrust of 770 tons.

The Tianlong-3 rocket will be comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9 in launch capability. The company also has plans to launch an even larger variant of the Tianlong-3 akin to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. 

Chinese commercial space firms have rushed into the sector since 2014, when private investment in the industry was allowed by the state. Many started making satellites, while others, including Beijing Tianbing, focused on developing reusable rockets that can significantly cut mission costs.

Unlike solid-propellant rockets that cannot adjust their flow of fuel, liquid-propellant rockets have significantly greater control over their flight, with those, such as SpaceX’s Falcon 9, capable of returning to Earth in controlled descents and making vertical landings.

Reusable rockets will help expedite the building of Chinese constellations of commercial satellites that can offer services ranging from high-speed internet for aircraft to tracking coal shipments.

In its latest five-year plan for 2021-2025, the Chinese government has called for an integrated network of satellites for communications, remote sensing and navigation. China currently has over 400 satellites in space, including commercially owned satellites, according to state media.

Video Credit: CNSA Watcher

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: March 21, 2024

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