TQ-11

TQ-11

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	25.5
Performance
Thrust, vacuum	80 kilonewtons (18,000 lbf)
Chamber pressure	10.1 MPa (1,460 psi)
Specific impulse, vacuum	337s
Dimensions
Measurement	1.1m
Diameter	0.28m
Used in
ZQ-2
References
Notes	[1]

The TQ-11 (Chinese: 天鹊-11; pinyin: Tiānquè-11, lit. Sky Lark 11) is a gas-generator cycle rocket engine burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen developed by LandSpace. It is used as the second stage vernier engine for LandSpace's ZQ-2 rocket.^[2][3][4] The engine produces 80 kilonewtons (18,000 lbf) of thrust in a vacuum.^[1]

History

LandSpace completed the first engine hot firing test for TQ-11 on November 3, 2019, and the engine passed a 1500 second test in 2020.^[2][4] On December 14, 2022, Zhuque-2 completed its maiden flight. The TQ-11 engines used in the rocket's second stage failed, resulting in mission failure. LandSpace planned to upgrade the second stage with one TQ-15A engine, eliminating the need for a vernier engine. The failure of TQ-11 could force LandSpace to update the second stage quicker than anticipated.^[5] In July 2023, LandSpace successfully launched its second ZQ-2 rocket, continuing to utilize TQ-11 engines for the second stage. Future flights are planned to employ the TQ-15A engines.^[6]

References

1. "TQ-11 Engine". LandSpace. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
2. "System-level Test Run for "TQ-11"LRE Successfully Conducted - Landspace". LandSpace. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
3. "Will LandSpace be China's SpaceX?". The Space Review. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
4. Jones, Andrew (14 April 2020). "Space Pioneer raises $14 million to develop green liquid rocket engines". SpaceNews.
5. Beil, Adrian (14 December 2022). "Chinese Zhuque-2 fails during first methalox orbital launch attempt". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
6. Beil, Adrian (11 July 2023). "LandSpace claims win in the methane race to orbit via second ZhuQue-2 launch". NASASpaceFlight.com.