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 under development 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]
| Country of origin | China |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Landspace |
| Status | Active |
| Liquid-fuel engine | |
| Propellant | LOX / CH4 |
| 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 | 337s |
| Specific impulse, sea-level | 284.5s |
| Dimensions | |
| Measurement | 3.9m |
| Diameter | 1.5m |
| Used in | |
| ZQ-2 | |
| References | |
| Notes | [1][2][3] |
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.