The YF-102 is a
Chinese
Chinese may refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China.
**'' Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...
liquid
Liquid is a state of matter with a definite volume but no fixed shape. Liquids adapt to the shape of their container and are nearly incompressible, maintaining their volume even under pressure. The density of a liquid is usually close to th ...
rocket engine
A rocket engine is a reaction engine, producing thrust in accordance with Newton's third law by ejecting reaction mass rearward, usually a high-speed Jet (fluid), jet of high-temperature gas produced by the combustion of rocket propellants stor ...
burning
LOX
Lox is a fillet of brined salmon, which may be smoked. Lox is frequently served on a bagel with cream cheese, and often garnished with tomato, onion, cucumber, and capers.
Etymology
The American English word ''lox'' is a borrowing of Yiddi ...
and
kerosene
Kerosene, or paraffin, is a combustibility, combustible hydrocarbon liquid which is derived from petroleum. It is widely used as a fuel in Aviation fuel, aviation as well as households. Its name derives from the Greek (''kērós'') meaning " ...
in a
gas generator cycle. It is manufactured by the
AALPT based on the experience of previous kerolox engines, and using 3D printing technology and is capable of multiple restarts.
Space Pioneer
Space Pioneer (), also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology Co., Ltd., is a Chinese aerospace company developing reusable orbital rocket technology—both launch vehicles and liquid rocket engines—to access the market for low-cost space laun ...
.
History
The engine was revealed in 2021 without a target launch vehicle. In its presentation video, it was shown in a five engine configuration on a 3.35m diameter first stage and as a single engine on the second stage.[ A reusable version, YF-102R could be ready by 2026 according to the manufacturer.][
In 2023, ]Space Pioneer
Space Pioneer (), also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology Co., Ltd., is a Chinese aerospace company developing reusable orbital rocket technology—both launch vehicles and liquid rocket engines—to access the market for low-cost space laun ...
, a Chinese private aerospace startup used YF-102 engines to power its Tianlong-2
The Tianlong-2 () is a small-lift launch vehicle developed by Space Pioneer, a private Chinese aerospace company. The rocket is a three-stage design that uses liquid oxygen and kerosene
Kerosene, or paraffin, is a combustibility, combustibl ...
Rocket. Tianlong-2 is a medium-sized, 3-stage rocket powered by RP-1 and liquid oxygen, with a payload capability of 2 tonnes to LEO and 1.5 tonnes to SSO. Each of the stages of the Tianlong-2 rocket is equipped with a YF-102 gas generator engine, which develops 85 tons of thrust. The three first-stage YF-102 were arranged in a triangular arrangement.
See also
*YF-100
The YF-100 is a Chinese liquid rocket engine burning LOX and kerosene in an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle.
Development of the engine began in the 2000s, along with its sibling, the smaller YF-115, which would power the upper stages of ...
– First stage Chinese rocket engine which is a previous kerolox engine from the manufacturer.
*YF-115
The YF-115 is a Chinese liquid rocket engine burning LOX and kerosene in an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle. A high efficiency/high thrust environmental-friendly rocket engine was always an objective within Programme 863. Development began ...
– Upper stage Chinese rocket engine which is a previous kerolox engine from the manufacturer.
References
Rocket engines of China
Rocket engines using kerosene propellant
Rocket engines using the expander cycle
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