TQ-12

TQ-12

Country of origin	China
Manufacturer	LandSpace
Status	Active
Liquid-fuel engine
Propellant	LOX / CH4
Mixture ratio	2.92
Cycle	Gas-generator cycle
Configuration
Nozzle ratio	45
Performance
Thrust, vacuum	745 kilonewtons (167,000 lbf) for sea level nozzle 785 kilonewtons (176,000 lbf) for vacuum nozzle
Thrust, sea-level	658 kilonewtons (148,000 lbf)
Chamber pressure	10.1 MPa (1,460 psi)
Specific impulse, vacuum	337 s
Specific impulse, sea-level	284.5 s
Dimensions
Measurement	3.9 m
Diameter	1.5 m
Used in
ZQ-2
References
Notes	[1][2][3]

The TQ-12 (Chinese: 天鹊-12; pinyin: Tiānquè-12, lit. Sky Lark 12) is a gas-generator cycle rocket engine burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen (methalox) developed by LandSpace.^[4] TQ-12 is the first Chinese liquid rocket engine developed with private funding.^[5] The engine has been designed to produce 670 kilonewtons (150,000 lbf) of thrust at sea level.^[6]

A TQ-12 engine during a hot firing test on 14 May 2020

History

The engine passed its first power pack test including the turbopump, valves, ignition components, and the gas generator at a LandSpace facility in Huzhou on March 25, 2019.^[7] The engine's first full assembly was delivered in May 2019, and a hot fire test was successfully conducted the same month.^[8][9] The engine passed its first 200 seconds variable thrust test on October 26, 2019.^[3] Series of 400s hot fire tests were conducted in January 2021 and the first-stage engine assembly for LandSpace's Zhuque-2 rocket was completed in February 2021. It consists of four TQ-12 engines providing a takeoff thrust of 268 tons.^[10] 37 TQ-12 family engines have been built by LandSpace as of July 31, 2022, with a hot fire test duration of more than 20,000 seconds. A record-breaking 3357 seconds of hot firing time were accumulated by one engine after it was started 11 times.^[11]

In August 2022, LandSpace successfully tested the improved TQ-12A. Compared with the original TQ-12, the engine thrust is increased by 9%, the specific impulse is increased by 40 m/s, and the weight is reduced by 100kg.^[11]

On December 14, 2022, Zhuque-2 completed its maiden flight. Four TQ-12 engines powered the first stage, which performed normally during the flight. However, the TQ-11 vernier engines used in the second stage failed, and the rocket was lost.^[12]

In July 2023, the 2nd launch of Zhuque-2 was successful and the payload reached orbit.

References

1. "TQ-12 Engine". LandSpace. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
2. ""天鹊"80吨液氧甲烷发动机100%推力100秒试车圆满成功("Tianque" 80-ton liquid oxygen methane engine successfully tested for 100 seconds with 100% thrust)". Weixin Official Account Platform. LandSpace. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
3. "突破推力调节技术 80吨液氧甲烷发动机200秒变推力试车成功(Breakthrough in thrust adjustment technology and successful 200-second variable thrust test of 80-ton liquid oxygen methane engine)". Weixin Official Accounts Platform. LandSpace. 26 Oct 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
4. Jones, Andrew (16 May 2019). "Landspace assembles methalox engine, signs international agreements". SpaceNews. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
5. "LandSpace Technology Obtains More Millions for Rocket Development". Satnews Daily. 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
6. Chen, Lan; Myrrhe, Jacqueline (3 Sep 2019). "The Space Review: Will LandSpace be China's SpaceX?". www.thespacereview.com. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
7. Jones, Andrew (23 April 2019). "Landspace, iSpace and Linkspace of China claim progress on new launchers". SpaceNews.
8. Jones, Andrew (16 May 2019). "Landspace assembles methalox engine, signs international agreements". SpaceNews.
9. Nyirady, Annamarie (17 May 2019). "China's LandSpace Successfully Tests TQ-12 Engine - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
10. Jones, Andrew (19 February 2021). "Landspace closes in on orbital launch with liquid methane rocket". SpaceNews.
11. "蓝箭航天天鹊80吨改进型发动机完成二次起动试车 - 科学探索". cnBeta.COM (in Chinese (China)). Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
12. Beil, Adrian (14 December 2022). "Chinese Zhuque-2 fails during first methalox orbital launch attempt". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 18 December 2022.