According to the Sixth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the main engine of China’s Long March 10 manned lunar rocket successfully completed an ignition test yesterday. This verified that the engine met all the requirements for the rocket’s flight mission, providing robust support for the stabilization of the engine’s technical status, establishment of product technical baseline, and reliability enhancement.
The engine tested uses advanced liquid oxygen and kerosene as fuel, which is an improved iteration from the high-thrust liquid oxygen and kerosene engines used by the active Long March 5 and other new-generation carrier rockets. With a thrust of 130 tons, it will be used for the core first stage and boosters of the Long March 10 carrier rocket for China’s manned moon landing.
Researcher Zhou Xianqi from the 165th Institute of the Sixth Academy of CASC shared that from today’s test, the engine fully met the related experimental requirements. This test assessed the engine’s startup, shutdown, high and low operating conditions, and running stability, with all relevant parameters obtained.
During the engine’s development process, many new materials, processes, and technologies were applied. Researchers overcame key technical challenges, including the engine’s startup and shutdown timing, wide-range continuous variable thrust, and long life and high reliability, laying a solid foundation for the next step of the engine’s research and development.
Zhou Xianqi noted that after today’s engine test, several high-altitude simulation tests will be conducted in the second half of the year. These will ultimately determine the engine’s relevant performance and parameters, contributing to the development of the main propulsion engine for the manned lunar landing as aerospace professionals should.
As previously reported, China plans to achieve its manned lunar landing project before 2030, initiating scientific exploration on the moon.