China completes three ignition tests for liquid oxygen-kerosene engine in a day

China completed three ignition tests for liquid oxygen-kerosene engines at the Baolongyu site in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 19, 2025. (Photo/China News Service)

(ECNS) -- China completed three ignition tests for liquid oxygen-kerosene engines on Sunday at the Baolongyu site of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

The tests were conducted on two 120-metric-ton liquid oxygen-kerosene rocket engines and one 18-ton liquid oxygen-kerosene rocket engine within a single day, a first for the nation, according to CASC.

China achieved another improvement in its capability to conduct verification tests for main engines of its new-generation carrier rockets, providing robust support for higher-frequency launch missions.

Opened in 2005, the Baolongyu site in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province is responsible for acceptance testing tasks related to liquid oxygen-kerosene engines.

In recent years, the preparation time for liquid oxygen-kerosene engine acceptance tests was reduced from five days to three, and later to two through technological innovations by CASC. The institute is committed to ensuring on-schedule delivery of the main propulsion engine for China's next-generation carrier rockets.