QuoteSome kind of rocket propulsion "flying board" (literally) from Space Transportation/凌空天行.
Some kind of rocket propulsion "flying board" (literally) from Space Transportation/凌空天行.
NSF - NASASpaceflight.com@NASASpaceflight·As China’s launch cadence continues to accelerate, so too has the pace of engine testing in recent weeks. A growing number of commercial launch providers are edging closer to the maiden flights of new vehicles — several of which are still on track to debut before the end of the year.Meanwhile, taikonauts aboard the Tiangong space station have completed the fourth spacewalk of their crew rotation, as China prepares to launch its next three astronauts at the end of this month. The country also unveiled new images from its Tianwen-2 deep-space explorer, as well as other orbiting satellites.NSF Article: Surge in static fires as China’s space sector gains momentumwritten by Martin Smith October 9, 2025By Martin Smith (@MartiniumSpace)
The Long March 8A rocket's YF-75DB hydrogen-oxygen engine successfully completed its certification test run. Multiple innovations are helping to enhance market competitiveness.On October 18, the Long March 8A carrier rocket's (CZ-8A) YF-75DB hydrogen-oxygen engine successfully completed its certification test run. Conducted in strict accordance with a four-fold duty cycle, the test run, which began on September 22nd, involved four test runs and nine ignitions covering various operating conditions. This fully verified the engine's performance, structural reliability, and component adaptability under complex conditions. The successful completion of this test run marks the official entry of this engine into the engineering application phase.Song Zhengyu, Chief Designer of the Chang Zheng-8 series rockets, explained, "To further meet customer needs, we have made improvements to the Chang Zheng-8A rocket, including engine upgrades. Traditional engines rely on pyrotechnics and can generally only ignite twice. The YF-75DB hydrogen-oxygen engine uses an advanced torch ignition method. This not only eliminates the need for pyrotechnic testing and installation, significantly improving test and launch efficiency and shortening the test and launch cycle, but also features multiple ignition capabilities, enabling the last stage to actively and rapidly deorbit after the primary mission, effectively reducing space debris. This engine will be deployed on the Chang Zheng-8A rocket next year, further enhancing the rocket's market competitiveness.""To increase the Chang Zheng-8A rocket's payload capacity, the design team conducted a series of technical upgrades and optimizations, while also further improving the rocket's ability to postpone launches," explained Cui Lei, a member of the design team.System simplification is another highlight of this engine. For example, the optimization of the gas path system significantly simplifies the test and launch process, effectively improving test and launch efficiency.In addition, this engine incorporates several weight-reduction features, effectively reducing the overall engine weight and further enhancing the rocket's payload capacity.During the development and test run of this engine, the model team actively deepened communication, achieved precise coordination, and achieved efficient collaboration with teams from other units, laying a solid foundation for the successful test run. Going forward, the model team will continue to work tirelessly, exploring innovations with a pioneering spirit, and pooling team wisdom with a resilient spirit of solidarity, to contribute further to the development of China's commercial space industry.
Ace of Razgriz@raz_liuLJ-2 Y1 of Cas Space. Launch within 2025.
"Cloud Dialogue" interviews Yang Yiqiang, founder of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Yang Yiqiang, chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, is the first commander-in-chief of the Long March 11 rocket. He was formerly the commander-in-chief of the Chang 11 rocket of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. He is currently the director of the Aerospace Flight Technology Center of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, responsible for the development of a series of aerospace vehicles.0 comments
China 'N Asia Spaceflight 🚀𝕏 🛰️@CNSpaceflight👀 another commercial launch startup just popped up from nowhere, WELIGHT. Here they bring another reusable rocket WeiGuang-1:FFSC Metholox engines (11 in 1st stage) & Carbon composite bodyspecifications in the pic 👇
China 'N Asia Spaceflight 🚀𝕏 🛰️@CNSpaceflight·33mWELIGHT assembled a WG-1 simulator for testing
Ace of Razgriz@raz_liuOkay since the Wenchang commercical couldn't finish the methane loading system on time. Rumours say the maiden flight of CZ-12A may switch to JSLC at end of 2025.
QuoteAce of Razgriz@raz_liuOkay since the Wenchang commercical couldn't finish the methane loading system on time. Rumours say the maiden flight of CZ-12A may switch to JSLC at end of 2025.https://twitter.com/raz_liu/status/1981197237394059410
Our institute presented the flag to the Party member assault team for the Jiuquan launch site's liquid oxygen and methane supply system construction project.Recently, Zhang Kuihao, Party Secretary of our institute, and supervisory personnel visited the construction site of the Jiuquan project, undertaken by 雷特公司, to express their gratitude to the on-site implementation personnel who braved the scorching sun and sandstorms. They presented the flag to the Party member assault team and conducted on-site research and discussions on project construction quality, production safety, and progress. Leaders from the Systems Engineering Department, the Ideological and Political Work Department, and the Electromechanical Technology Division participated in the event.At the construction site, the delegation carefully inspected the progress of various tasks, inquired in detail about the project progress, construction difficulties, and specific safeguards. They also fully commended the orderly site management and the high morale of the builders.At the project site, Zhang Kuihao presented the flag to the Party member assault team for the Jiuquan launch site's liquid oxygen and methane supply system. He encouraged them to fully demonstrate their exemplary and vanguard role as Party members, to take the lead and shoulder responsibilities, to become the core force in overcoming difficulties and ensuring production, and to lead all builders in completing the project with high quality and efficiency. [...]Meetings were held at the prefabricated Party building workroom and at the liquid oxygen and methane supply system construction site. Three clear requirements were set out:
China 'N Asia Spaceflight 🚀𝕏 🛰️@CNSpaceflight·In a significant development for space sustainability, CASC's Long March 8A rocket is set to gain the ability to deorbit its spent upper stage starting next year, made by the newly certified YF-75DB engine, which recently passed a series of fire tests. The engine's key upgrade, a new torch ignition system, allows for the multiple restarts needed to conduct a deorbit burn after payload deployment.
Ace of Razgriz@raz_liuZENK space (Yeah, another Chinese company with nearly zero info on the internet) plan to launch the their ZH-1 rocket in early 2026 at JSLC. The rocket looks ok tho.
Named "Navigator"! my country's First Rocket Net-System Recovery Maritime Platform Named and DeliveredOn November 30th, my country's first rocket net-system recovery maritime platform, developed under the leadership of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), was named "Navigator" (领航者) and successfully delivered. This marks a crucial step forward for CALT in the reusable launch vehicle technology chain, propelling the leap from technology verification to engineering application.This platform represents another significant advancement in the upgrading and development of my country's manned space transportation system, driven by the China Manned Space Program. It will further promote the "dual improvement" of efficiency and effectiveness in key technologies for the maritime recovery of reusable launch vehicles, effectively safeguarding my country's core competitiveness in cutting-edge fields such as rapid launch and low-cost space access. The "Navigator," combined with net-system recovery devices and other products, will jointly construct a stable, reliable, and precise rocket recovery system at sea.The development of the "Navigator" fully leverages the advantages of the new national system, representing the result of cross-disciplinary innovation in aerospace and maritime technologies, and embodying the collective wisdom of my country's research institutes, leading enterprises, and universities. The platform's feasibility study began in September 2024, the design was completed in December 2024, and construction commenced in April 2025. Within a seven-month modification period, it overcame numerous challenges, including highly complex technical integration, harsh summer dock working conditions, and an extremely tight construction schedule, successfully breaking through a series of key technical difficulties.Currently, the platform has obtained classification and statutory certificates issued by the China Classification Society (CCS), making it my country's first certified offshore rocket recovery platform.
The recovery ship for the CZ-10A has been delivered for use by CALT and CMSA, it may be used on the CZ-10A subscale hopper test, and otherwise will be used to catch CZ-10A on its second flight in 2027.
Quote from: TheKutKu on 11/30/2025 02:17 pmThe recovery ship for the CZ-10A has been delivered for use by CALT and CMSA, it may be used on the CZ-10A subscale hopper test, and otherwise will be used to catch CZ-10A on its second flight in 2027.The first launch of CZ-10A will be with the Menghzou test capsule. Is it already known what will be launched during the second launch in 2027?Could it be the crewed Mengzhou?
Yet another Chinese launch company emerges: FSTSpace. Plans its reusable Qitian-1 launcher, powered by 200-ton-class FFSC methalox engines. Claims a sub-scale thrust chamber hot fire in September.And another: Beijing Linghang Xingjian Technology Co., Ltd., planning xingzhou-1 (starship-1/star vessel-1) fully reusable "AI-assisted" launcher with "intelligent net/grid recovery". Very early stage, only conceptual claims, very ambitiously aiming for 2027 debut fight. Wild.
What I find interesting about this obvious Starship clone is that it is clearly configured as a satellite launcher, ie the orbiter functions as a reuseable 2nd stage. No real requirement for manning, and probably no intention for any application for lunar or Mars () operations.Regardless of whether this is ultimately a vapour-ware project (highly likely) it does tend to reinforce my judgement that Starship is intended as a satellite launcher for trucking large inventories of satellites to LEO, and that the highly touted lunar/Mars fever dreams are just Musks way of generating media attention and fanboi buzz for his project. The Chinese seem to get it, and recognise the veracity of the concept, but aren't interested in the lunar/mars hype.
