On November 2, the liquid oxygen methane reusable verification rocket Hyperbola-2 (codenamed SQX-2Y) completed the first full-scale one-stage vertical take-off and landing and reusable flight test of a liquid rocket in China at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. After 38 days, at 17:07 on December 10, the verification arrow once again completed the take-off and landing flight test, the rocket landed smoothly and accurately, the state was safely restored, and the flight test mission was a complete success. This is the first time that a full-scale rocket has been flown repeatedly in one sub-stage in China, and China's commercial aerospace has made an important breakthrough in the reusable technical capabilities of liquid launch vehicles.
This time, the demonstrator flew higher and had a greater range of maneuver than the previous test. Ji Haibo, chief engineer of the Interstellar Glory SQX-2Y liquid rocket, introduced that during the first flight, the verification arrow flew up to 178The height of 42 meters verifies the in-situ take-off and landing. This time, it soared to an altitude of about 350 meters and completed its traverse during the descent, finally landing steadily at a distance of 50 meters from the take-off point. This process does not require manual intervention, according to the pre-set landing point coordinates, the rocket will "use its brains", adjust the attitude, and land stably and accurately to the designated area.
To achieve rocket reuse, it is important to establish test specifications and processes after each time. Ji Haibo said that for each reset after launch, the technical team has to do a lot of testing and testing. Whether there is carbon deposition in the rocket engine, whether the pipeline is airtight, and whether the wearing parts need to be replaced......This test is an examination of the existing rocket reuse testing process. At present, it takes about 10 days to complete the relevant "physical examination" of the rocket ** after the completion of the flight status again, "In the future, we hope to achieve on-site testing at the launch site, and if the rocket is in good condition, it can be refueled on the third day and perform the flight mission again." ”
For reusable rockets, liquid oxygen methane propellants have the natural advantage of producing little to no engine carbon during combustion and at a lower cost. Ji Haibo said that this test is also the first domestic multiplexing flight verification of liquid oxygen methane rocket, and it is expected that next year, this verification arrow will also conduct the third flight test to achieve the best at sea. The relevant technologies verified in the test will support the development of the company's medium and large reusable liquid oxygen methane launch vehicle, Hyperbola-3.
*: Beijing**client reporter Liu Suya.