The TQ-12 (Chinese: 天鹊-12; pinyin: Tiānquè-12, lit. Sky Lark 12) is a gas-generator cycle rocket engine burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen (methalox) developed by LandSpace.[4] TQ-12 is the first Chinese liquid rocket engine developed with private funding.[5] The engine has been designed to produce 670 kilonewtons (150,000 lbf) of thrust at sea level.[6]
| Country of origin | China |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | LandSpace |
| Status | Active |
| Liquid-fuel engine | |
| Propellant | LOX / CH4 |
| Mixture ratio | 2.92 |
| Cycle | Gas-generator cycle |
| Configuration | |
| Nozzle ratio | 45 |
| Performance | |
| Thrust, vacuum | 745 kilonewtons (167,000 lbf) for sea level nozzle 785 kilonewtons (176,000 lbf) for vacuum nozzle |
| Thrust, sea-level | 658 kilonewtons (148,000 lbf) |
| Chamber pressure | 10.1 MPa (1,460 psi) |
| Specific impulse, vacuum | 337 s |
| Specific impulse, sea-level | 284.5 s |
| Dimensions | |
| Measurement | 3.9 m |
| Diameter | 1.5 m |
| Used in | |
| ZQ-2 | |
| References | |
| Notes | [1][2][3] |
History
editThe engine passed its first power pack test including the turbopump, valves, ignition components, and the gas generator at a LandSpace facility in Huzhou on March 25, 2019.[7] The engine's first full assembly was delivered in May 2019, and a hot fire test was successfully conducted the same month.[8][9] The engine passed its first 200 seconds variable thrust test on October 26, 2019.[3] Series of 400s hot fire tests were conducted in January 2021 and the first-stage engine assembly for LandSpace's Zhuque-2 rocket was completed in February 2021. It consists of four TQ-12 engines providing a takeoff thrust of 268 tons.[10] 37 TQ-12 family engines have been built by LandSpace as of July 31, 2022, with a hot fire test duration of more than 20,000 seconds. A record-breaking 3357 seconds of hot firing time were accumulated by one engine after it was started 11 times.[11]
In August 2022, LandSpace successfully tested the improved TQ-12A. Compared with the original TQ-12, the engine thrust is increased by 9%, the specific impulse is increased by 40 m/s, and the weight is reduced by 100kg.[11]
On December 14, 2022, Zhuque-2 completed its maiden flight. Four TQ-12 engines powered the first stage, which performed normally during the flight. However, the TQ-11 vernier engines used in the second stage failed, and the rocket was lost.[12]
In July 2023, the 2nd launch of Zhuque-2 was successful and the payload reached orbit.
References
edit- ^ "TQ-12 Engine". LandSpace. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ ""天鹊"80吨液氧甲烷发动机100%推力100秒试车圆满成功("Tianque" 80-ton liquid oxygen methane engine successfully tested for 100 seconds with 100% thrust)". Weixin Official Account Platform. LandSpace. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ a b "突破推力调节技术 80吨液氧甲烷发动机200秒变推力试车成功(Breakthrough in thrust adjustment technology and successful 200-second variable thrust test of 80-ton liquid oxygen methane engine)". Weixin Official Accounts Platform. LandSpace. 26 Oct 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ Jones, Andrew (16 May 2019). "Landspace assembles methalox engine, signs international agreements". SpaceNews. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ "LandSpace Technology Obtains More Millions for Rocket Development". Satnews Daily. 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Chen, Lan; Myrrhe, Jacqueline (3 Sep 2019). "The Space Review: Will LandSpace be China's SpaceX?". www.thespacereview.com. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Jones, Andrew (23 April 2019). "Landspace, iSpace and Linkspace of China claim progress on new launchers". SpaceNews.
- ^ Jones, Andrew (16 May 2019). "Landspace assembles methalox engine, signs international agreements". SpaceNews.
- ^ Nyirady, Annamarie (17 May 2019). "China's LandSpace Successfully Tests TQ-12 Engine - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ Jones, Andrew (19 February 2021). "Landspace closes in on orbital launch with liquid methane rocket". SpaceNews.
- ^ a b "蓝箭航天天鹊80吨改进型发动机完成二次起动试车 - 科学探索". cnBeta.COM (in Chinese (China)). Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
- ^ Beil, Adrian (14 December 2022). "Chinese Zhuque-2 fails during first methalox orbital launch attempt". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
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