BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) — China on Friday completed a test of the first stage propulsion system of the Long March-10 carrier rocket, announced the Chinese Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALVT), its developer .
The Long March-10 carrier rocket is a three-and-a-half-stage rocket, developed for China’s manned lunar mission, which will launch next-generation manned spacecraft and lunar landers. It has an approximate length of 92.5 meters, a takeoff weight of approximately 2,189 tonnes, a liftoff thrust of approximately 2,678 tonnes and a payload capacity for travel to an Earth-Moon transfer orbit of at least 27 tonnes.
Another rocket, derived from the Long March-10 carrier rocket, has no booster rockets and is capable of sending astronauts and cargo to the Chinese space station, according to its designer, which operates under the auspices of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
This rocket has a length of approximately 67 meters, a takeoff weight close to 740 tons, a liftoff thrust of approximately 892 tons, and a payload capacity for transfer to near-Earth orbit of at least 14 tons.
During Friday’s test, the propulsion system motor started normally, operated stably and shut down at the expected time, and all tested parameters were normal, CALVT said.
Propulsion system testing is the most complex and difficult ground test undertaken during carrier rocket development.
Friday’s test was the largest propulsion system test carried out so far in the development of China’s launcher, with three YF-100K engines fired simultaneously and ground thrust reaching 382 tonnes.
Its completion means that the Long March-10 carrier rocket has entered the accelerated phase of its ground testing and large-scale development, CALVT said.
According to a further development plan, the second test of the first stage propulsion system of the Long March-10 carrier rocket will be carried out soon to check other operating conditions.■
 China completes test of propulsion system of manned lunar mission launcher – Xinhua){kind=link}