China's Space Program News Thread

[gelgoog]

That actually has a bit more power than the RD-180. 5 MN. This is supposed to be for which rocket? Not the lunar one I think.
The chamber pressure is a lot higher than previous Chinese rocket engines at 22.0 MPa vs the RD-180s 26.7 MPa. YF-100 was just 18 MPa.
A single such rocket engine could probably power an entire LM-7 rocket first stage. It would bring manufacture costs for medium lift launch vehicles way down.

 

[SEAD]

This is supposed to be for which rocket?

The largest white elephant in China (or even the world) history of spaceflight: LM-9(2011 version).
Now it's deserted in the new 2021 version, but who knows. Design of LM-9 had changed for several times.

 

[Andy1974]

The largest white elephant in China (or even the world) history of spaceflight: LM-9(2011 version).
Now it's deserted in the new 2021 version, but who knows. Design of LM-9 had changed for several times.

It’s not a white elephant if it’s had multiple goals and fulfilled most of them. For example, training a generation of rocket scientists, who then designed its replacement.

 

[SEAD]

It’s not a white elephant if it’s had multiple goals and fulfilled most of them. For example, training a generation of rocket scientists, who then designed its replacement.

I cannot imagine a replacement for a rocket cost $10B per launch. lol. it's crazy^2.

 

[Hub]

I cannot imagine a replacement for a rocket cost $10B per launch. lol. it's crazy^2.

The New design Of LM-9 has reusable first and second stage. If it works, it’s a monster for Mega space exploration not a white elephant.

 

[SEAD]

The New design Of LM-9 has reusable first and second stage. If it works, it’s a monster for Mega space exploration not a white elephant.

Sure. white elephant is the 2011 version.

 

[gelgoog]

Crickey. The Long March 9. I had assumed they would be using even larger engines on that.
I agree on calling it a white elephant. These kinds of rockets are not cost effective.

So what will they do with this engine then?

I personally think they could just replace everything with that 911 rocket.
You know the triple parallel stage rocket with 7 YF-100 engines per stage.
Use a single core to replace Long March 7 and the triple core to replace Long March 5.
Then upgrade the YF-100 engine with the technology used in this one to boost performance.

 

[iantsai]

Actually inside Chinese fans there are also concerns about the extra-high performance of the new rockets. Any new equipment must be achievable first. Setting a too high performance is not a good way to success.

 

[by78]

The largest white elephant in China (or even the world) history of spaceflight: LM-9(2011 version).
Now it's deserted in the new 2021 version, but who knows. Design of LM-9 had changed for several times.

How could it be a white elephant if it was never and will never be built? And where did that $10 billion launch figure come from?

 

[huemens]

How could it be a white elephant if it was never and will never be built? And where did that $10 billion launch figure come from?

But they are continuing the development of YF-130, YF-90 and YF-79 engines. Non of those engines are used in proposed new versions (v21/v22). If not for CZ-9 v11, what other use they have for YF-130. It is too big for anything else. It could be that they are continuing these engines just as a learning exercise to add to their engine building experience.

Another possibility is that they are going to continue to build a few v11s to keep up with the timeline and then retire v11 when v22 comes along. The engine development for v11 is far ahead compared to the new engines proposed for v21/v22. They could be working on 11 and 22 in parallel.

Now that CZ-5DY is coming up CZ-9 will not be required for the human moon landing. It will be needed only for the moon base construction phase.