Chinas commercial rocket company LandSpace successfully conducted a crucial ground ignition test of the first-stage propulsion system for its recyclable Zhuque-3 rocket on Friday.
This considerable milestone moves the rocket towards the projects prepared 2025 debut flight.Conducted at the Dongfeng commercial area development pilot zone near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the test featured Chinas largest and most automated nine-engine parallel cluster hot-fire test to date, announced LandSpace.The test made use of a first-stage structure that is consistent with the technical status of the Zhuque-3s first flight mission, stated the Beijing-based rocket company.
This test accomplished a remarkably high degree of fidelity to real flight conditions and reproduced precisely how the system will fly in space throughout the test on the ground, stated a news release of LandSpace.The detailed trial rigorously simulated the whole pre-launch and flight sequence, covering propellant loading, tank pressurization, consecutive engine ignition in batches, continual stable operation and programmed shutdown procedures, according to journalism release.The 45-second test is powered by nine of LandSpaces self-developed liquid oxygen-methane engines, which created an overall thrust of 7,542 kilonewtons (kN).
It verified the compatibility between all significant subsystems –-- engines, pressurization and delivery systems, structures and avionics –-- and verified the reasonable style of the ground assistance and launch control procedures, LandSpace said.The Zhuque-3 rocket has a size of 4.5 meters and an overall length of around 66 meters, with its first stage developed to be recycled at least 20 times.
It can introduce several satellites at one time, such as flat stackable satellites.Its tank is made from high-strength stainless steel, and it has the possible to decrease launch costs by 80 to 90 percent compared to single-use rockets.The first-stage engine of Zhuque-3 can be checked without being separated from the rocket after it is recovered, and can fly again after refueling, just like aircraft flights, according to LandSpace.