A 3.5-meter Diameter Solid Rocket Motor Prototype Successfully Completes Its First Ignition Test at a Facility in Xi’an.
China conducted its first ignition test of a new rocket engine prototype at a testing facility in northwestern China on October 19. This engine is touted as the largest and most advanced solid rocket motor in the world.
The 3.5-meter-wide rocket engine can produce a thrust of 500 tons, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Thus, it is over four times more powerful than the liquid-fueled engine on the Long March 5 rocket, which is currently the largest launch vehicle in China’s space program.
With its high mobility and near-instantaneous launch capability, solid rocket motors are widely used for military purposes. Most of these rockets are smaller, partly because delivering warheads to their targets typically does not require excessive thrust.
Chinese aerospace experts have reported significant technological breakthroughs that have greatly increased the payload capacity of solid rocket engines. To reduce weight, the engine body is made from composite materials such as high-strength fibers. Some key components, including the nozzle and combustion chamber, also utilize new technologies to enhance thrust.
Data from the ground test in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, indicates that the overall performance of the rocket engine is “world-class,” CASC stated. A larger version of the engine capable of producing 1,000 tons of thrust is also under development.
Solid rocket motors are widely used for military purposes.
The military applications of these new solid rocket engines have not been clarified, but the civilian version will assist Chinese astronauts in traveling to the Moon. In space programs, most rockets use liquid fuel because they burn more efficiently and can carry heavier payloads into orbit. However, the launch preparation process can take several days.
In recent years, China has developed a series of new solid rocket motors capable of deploying a large number of small satellites into low Earth orbit within hours. Besides cost, traditional solid rockets have several other limitations. Their flight paths are harder to control, affecting accuracy. They also can only burn once. However, in recent years, Chinese scientists have made significant technical advancements related to fuel efficiency, flight control, and engine reactivation.
