Nation's mightiest rocket engine tested successfully

On Nov 5, Engineers in China's space industry conducted a key test of the country's most powerful liquid-propellant rocket engine, a step forward in the development of a super-heavy carrier rocket.

Developed by the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, the 500-metric-ton thrust engine's first ignition test took place at the academy's testing facility in a Xi'an suburb.

The achievement is an important breakthrough in the research and development of the engine, which is four times mightier than China's strongest rocket engine, which has a thrust of 120 tons. The engine consumes liquid oxygen and kerosene and has the largest thruster chamber of any staged combustion rocket engine in the world, according to designers.

The new engine is expected to be the main propulsion on the Long March 9 rocket, a model under research and development that will be used to send Chinese astronauts to the moon. Upon its completion, the Long March 9 will likely become one of the world's largest and mightiest launch vehicles.