All content in this article is based on official and reliable sources, and the specific information is detailed at the end of the article
Preface
Just two days ago, another piece of good news came from the mainland's aerospace industry! First of all, the long-awaited successful launch of Shenzhou-18 and the smooth "rendezvous" with the Shenzhou-17 crew.
In one is an important driving force to support the flight of the spacecraft, that is, the 130-ton pump swing liquid oxygen kerosene engine experiment was successful!
Moreover, it was a four-machine parallel ignition test with a thrust of 500 tons, and this historic experiment was completed for the first time on April 28.
Perhaps many people do not understand what this success means, and it will go down in history.
Four machines in parallel, recorded in history
The good news at the end of the month, April 28, is really exciting!
The engine with a total thrust of more than 500 tons developed by the Sixth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation was successfully tested.
The engine experiment is a key part of the development and real use, and the ignition experiment is also scientifically calculated to test all details.
The mainland plans to basically complete the international lunar scientific research station in 2035! The appearance of this news can be said to be the most practical news that mankind has come to the dream of landing on the moon in recent years.
It is also preparing to build a scientific research station with the south pole of the moon as the core, and plans to build a more complete scientific research station with the lunar orbital station as the hub by 2045.
Reference: Xinhuanet, April 25, 2024 The basic model of the "Chang'e" International Lunar Research Station is expected to be completed by 2035
So to build a lunar scientific research station, no matter how many steps it takes, the most important thing is to go out and take the first step.
Then comes the practical question, that is, how to go, or in a nutshell, what to take to the moon?
That's right, it's a well-known means of space transportation, and if you think about it, you need to be loaded with fuel to get to the far moon.
Imagine whether the rocket carries more fuel is the most important thing is to have a good engine, just compare it with a popular car engine.
A car with an engine that performs well in every way, and a normal version of the engine, who would you say would be the farthest and fastest?
Back to the topic, on April 28, the third day after Shenzhou 18 successfully arrived in space, the mainland completed a four-engine parallel ignition test for the mainland's 130-ton pump swing liquid oxygen kerosene engine.
This is a completely self-developed experiment by the Sixth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and it is also the largest engine thrust experiment in the history of mainland aerospace.
Reference: Xinhuanet's hydrodynamic ignition test with the largest thrust on the mainland on April 28, 2024 was a complete success
What does this mean? The successful experiment of the engine will bring new thrust and inject new vitality into the continent's rocket launch mission.
Compared with the 120-ton engine currently in use, the difference between the engine and the 120-ton engine currently in use can be seen in the surface figures.
The leap from 120 tons to 500 tons of thrust can take the continent's spacecraft farther away, but this does not mean that it is unsafe and unstable.
It turns out that the parallel connection of four engines is really "binding" the four engines to work together, but oh, this is not so simple.
The difficulties do not stop there, and the surprises brought by the Sixth Academy are not limited to this.
The dream of a manned landing on the moon is gradually coming true
In fact, in July last year, the Sixth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation had already brought us a shocking news.
On July 23, 2023, the Sixth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation successfully ignited the self-developed engine of the manned lunar landing rocket Long March 10, and it was successfully completed.
The success of this experiment is also adding impetus to the mainland's manned lunar landing program.
The take-off thrust of the Long March 10 rocket reached 2,678 tons, and the carrying capacity of the lunar orbit was three times that of the Long March 5, that is, 27 tons.
In April of this year, that is, half a year later, engines with a thrust of 500 tons were brought again.
The experiment of the 130-ton pump swing liquid oxygen kerosene engine is a time that can be recorded in the history of the development of liquid power in the continent, because it is the one with the largest thrust and the most complex system.
Then you must have doubts in your mind, it is so difficult to run four engines together, why not just build a separate large engine.
The reason is still very simple, that is, if the high-thrust engine means that everything has to be upgraded and expanded, it will be more difficult to develop the whole, and the cost will increase again and again.
Scientists went through countless days and nights of calculations and tests, using computers to simulate multiple possible outcomes and make adjustments before finally putting the experiment into reality.
Reference: The Paper, April 28, 2024 Blockbuster! The hydrodynamic ignition test of the continent's maximum thrust was a complete success
Fortunately, the engine did not disappoint the scientific researchers and lived up to the expectations given by the motherland.
Li Bin, vice president of the Sixth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and chief engineer of the engine, said that the successful ignition of the engine verified the possibility of multiple simultaneous operation of the rear swing engine of the pump.
After this test, the four-engine parallel engine can also be put into use very quickly, and we can also see it in the new space mission.
China has been able to connect four 130-ton rocket engines in parallel and is about to be put into service with success, which is at the forefront of the world's aerospace industry.
Although it is not as good as the 740 tons of the RD-170, the world's largest thrust multi-combustion liquid rocket engine, the continent's ability to find another way is enough to see the innovation ability of the research and development personnel.
While most countries are still deeply involved in the study of high-thrust monobloc engines, mainland scientific researchers have changed their thinking and developed multiple engines together.
This is not only a great progress in the mainland's aerospace science and technology, but also will bring a new idea to the world's aerospace, and I hope that this new inspiration will lead the global aerospace industry to a higher level, and all mankind will explore the mysteries of space together!
The continuous breakthroughs in the aerospace industry have demonstrated the mainland's scientific and technological strength, enhanced the self-confidence of the mainland people, and enhanced their sense of cultural identity.
Now there are about 10 years left before the completion of the mainland's planned lunar research station, and I hope that this day will come sooner.
I would like to thank the thousands of scientific research workers behind the increasingly brilliant aerospace industry for their hard work!
Without their efforts, the rapid development of the aerospace industry would not be possible today.
epilogue
I wish the mainland's aerospace industry better and better, and hope that the six astronauts of Shenzhou-17 and 18, who are on mission, can return to Earth safely.
I hope that the dream of going to the moon is no longer only the mythical "Chang'e to the moon", but the mainland's Chang'e will go to the moon in person to realize the mainland's dream of landing on the moon!
We are also looking forward to the future of China's aerospace!