A number of Chinese rocket firms are preparing to carry out first hop tests
in a bid to develop reusable launch vehicles.
Beijing Deep Blue Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd., carried out a 10-second
static fire test of the 7.3-meter-high “Nebula-M” technology verification
test vehicle, the company announced July 13.
Deep Blue Aerospace plans to follow up with a variable thrust test before
attempting vertical takeoff, vertical landing tests with the Nebula-M. No
timeline for the attempts was provided.
The Nebula-M uses a Leiting-5 (Thunder 5) kerosene-liquid oxygen,
electric-pump-fed engine and will attempt meter- and 100-meter-level hops.
The tests can be considered analogous to SpaceX’s Grasshopper experimental
flights as a step towards reusable rockets.
The hop tests will pave the way for an orbital launch of the reusable
Nebula-1 launch vehicle. The 2.25-meter-diameter Nebula-1 is to be capable
of lifting 500 kilograms to 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit. A larger
3.35-meter-diameter Nebula-2 launcher capable of sending 4,500 kilograms to
low Earth orbit is also in development.
The test is one of a number of efforts by Chinese companies to develop
reusable, cost-reducing liquid launch vehicles. Alongside Deep Blue
Aerospace, iSpace is working towards hop tests using a test stage for the
reusable Hyperbola-2 methane-liquid oxygen launch vehicle. In April the firm
conducted lengthy variable thrust hot fire tests of its Jiaodian-1 engine.
Landspace, which made its first and so far only launch attempt with the
Zhuque-1 solid rocket in 2018, is expected to conduct the first launch of
its Zhuque-2 methalox rocket this year. Founder Zhang Changwu said in April
that the firm would choose an opportunity to launch within the next six
months.
Zhuque-2 will initially be expendable, but Landspace is looking to upgrade
the engines to make the launcher VTVL-capable and reusable.
These endeavors are illustrative of the level of ambition within China’s
commercial space sector, while their success or failure will be indicative
of progress and capabilities so far made. The developments are also a
reaction to changes in the launch sector initiated in the United States,
namely the emergence of private launch companies and shift to reusability.
Crowded commercial field
Four Chinese rocket companies have attempted orbital launches following a
Chinese government decision to open up the space sector to private capital
in 2014. Two of the companies—iSpace and Galactic Energy—successfully
inserted payloads into orbit.
So far however all attempts have used simpler and expendable solid rockets,
with liquid rockets posing more complex challenges. The upcoming tests by
Deep Blue Aerospace will however not be the first hop tests by a Chinese
company. In August 2019 Linkspace performed a successful 300-meter-altitude
VTVL test. The firm soon after signed a deal with Jiuzhou Yunjian for
engines for an orbital launcher, but has since been silent, except for a
recruitment notice posted in March.
Galactic Energy is also developing a reusable launcher. The kerolox Pallas-1
is slated for a test launch in late 2022. The Beijing-based firm is expected
first to follow up a successful first launch with more commercial
missions of the Ceres-1 solid rocket.
A number of China’s commercial launch companies have attracted huge funding
rounds, despite a large number of actors competing for a share of an
uncertain commercial market.
More than ten firms—Landspace, OneSpace, iSpace, Linkspace, Galactic Energy,
Deep Blue Aerospace, Space Pioneer, Space Transportation, Aerospace
Propulsion, Seres Space Exploration Technology, Oriental Space, Spacetrek
and Rocket Pi—have plans to develop launch vehicles.
China Rocket and Expace, spinoffs from huge state-owned space contractors,
have additionally launched solid rockets. Both are also planning to develop
reusable liquid launchers. CAS Space, an offshoot from the Chinese Academy
of Sciences, has also entered the sector.
Initiatives such as the national satellite internet project could provide
launch contract opportunities for commercial outfits.
Firms have been supported through a national strategy of civil-military
fusion. This includes facilitating the transfer of restricted technologies
to approved firms in order to promote innovation in dual-use
technologies.
The State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National
Defense (SASTIND) has also issued guidance on the development of launch
vehicles and small satellites as part of an apparent effort to create a
clear regulatory framework for commercial space activities.
The country’s main space contractor, the China Aerospace Science and
Technology Corp. (CASC), is also exploring reusability. The new Long March
8, derived from the expendable Long March 7 and older Long March 3B
technologies, had a first flight in December and is expected to be developed
into a VTVL launcher. First stage VTVL hop tests are expected this year.
Grid fin and other tests have also been carried out with older Long March 2C
rockets, and variants of the Long March 6 are expected to be reusable.
In the longer term China has stated that it is targeting smart, recoverable
and reusable launch vehicles by around 2035. Design concepts for China’s
future super heavy-lift launcher, the Long March 9, appear to be shifting
from the established Long March-style with side boosters to a single core
version with clustered engines more amenable to first stage reusability,
according to a presentation from a senior Chinese rocket designer.