China Test Fires Gigantic, Futuristic Rocket To Enable Deep Space Exploration

China just completed testing of a solid rocket motor, adding another way to propel its rockets into space.

CASC

Also Read: 21-Ton Chinese Rocket Is Falling To Earth, No One Knows Where It's Crashing

Reported first by Space, the rocket took its maiden flight from a launch site near Xi¡¯an city in north China, firing for 115 seconds. The motor was developed by the Academy of Aerospace Solid Propulsion Technology (AASPT) which is part of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) -- the main space contractor of the nation.

The whole motor has a diameter of 11.48 feet and is capable of a maximum thrust of 100,000 pounds-force or around 500 tonnes. To power this, the engine requires 330,000 pounds or 150 tons of solid fuel. CASC claims this to be the most powerful rocket motor with the largest thrust ever.

The engine features several state-of-the-art technologies including a high-performance fiber composite shell, an integral-casting combustion chamber and an oversized nozzle, which makes it one of the most high-tech rocket engines on this planet.

Also Read: China Launches Core Module To Build 1st Permanent Space Station In Orbit

Ren Quanbin, president of AASPT said in a statement, "Testing is very successful. We have tested all the parameters including the 500-ton thrust that worked 115 seconds. We are at the international advanced level in the field of large solid rocket engines. Next, we will develop a 1,000-ton solid rocket engine to provide stronger thrust for China's carrier rockets in the future."

NASA

Also Read: NASA Chief Warns Of Chinese Space Station, And Rise Of China's Space Ambitions

The rocket engine is expected to be used with heavy-lift rockets for missions like crewed Moon landings and deeper space exploration. Even though China¡¯s existing line-up of rockets aren¡¯t slouch by any means (like Long March 9 and Long March 11).

However, the newly developed engine could be added to the existing launch vehicles to allow them to produce extra thrust. It is also expected to be implemented by CASC commercial spinoff China Rocket for launching commercial satellites.

Keep reading Indiatimes.com for the latest science and technology news and updates