YF-79 thrust 250 kN, specific impulse over 455 s. In Sep 5, YF-100K also completed a firing test. Compared to YF-100, weight reduced by 300 kg, size reduced by 1/3, thrust increased by 5 ton, specific impulse increased by 3 s. But this is for the project 921.
China's latest high-thrust, heavy-duty launch vehicle engine passes key tests
2022-09-06 14:17 HKT
"China Aerospace News" reported on Wednesday that Chinese technicians have successfully completed a key step in the development of the next-generation hydrogen-oxygen engine YF-79.
Two experiments conducted earlier this month validated the design of the thrust combustion chamber of the rocket engine, showing that its design is capable of complex space flight. The report stated that the development team will continue to conduct thermal performance testing of the rocket engine's entire system.
Once the development is completed, it will be the most powerful expansion cycle hydrogen-oxygen rocket engine of its kind. The engine will be used in China's next-generation super-heavy carrier rocket "Long March 9" and will send Chinese astronauts to the moon in the future.
This report stated that (the engine) can be activated multiple times through various variable thrust adjustment mechanisms, and can be used for complex space missions such as manned moon landing, manned Martian landing, and deep space exploration flights.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has stated that China's goal is to implement a manned moon landing by 2030 and establish a joint lunar station with Russia around 2035. CNSA also plans to take samples from Mars and conduct more distant planetary exploration and deep space exploration missions.
China's lack of large-thrust rocket engines has always restricted China's aerospace ambitions. The problems that have occurred in the "Long March 5" carrier rocket have affected the pace of China's aerospace development. The "Long March 9" carrier rocket can transport up to 50 tons of payload to the moon and up to 44 tons of payload to Mars. Low-Earth orbit load reaches 140 tons-equivalent to the US "Falcon" heavy rocket, almost six times that of the "Long March 5".
It is reported that the latest test of YF-79 was conducted under 60% and 100% rated conditions, which not only verified the design of the thrust chamber, but also collected valuable data.
The team also completed the welding of a 9.5-meter (31-foot) diameter ring to the base of the CZ-9 rocket.
The third and top stages of the "Long March 9" rocket include four YF-79 engines. The first stage is four 500-ton thrust kerosene-oxygen YF-130 engines, and the second stage is two 220-ton thrust YF-90 oxyhydrogen engine, in addition to a number of YF-130 engines as boosters.
YF-90 and YF-130 engines are also under intense development. The first YF-90 engine was manufactured in July this year. In March of this year, researchers conducted a "full working condition and semi-system" test on the YF-130 engine—this is an important step in the development process—and it is expected that the full system verification test will be completed before the end of the year.
