China completes testing of heavy, reusable liquid rocket engine

BEIJING -- China has successfully completed the full-engine testing of a 140-tonne liquid oxygen-methane engine that will power the country's reusable carrier rockets, the engine's maker said on Tuesday.

Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology, the rocket engine boasts the largest thrust among China's current open-cycle liquid oxygen-methane ones.

It is designed to serve as a crucial power source for reusable rockets and will play a vital role in future space-Earth transportation systems, reusable launch vehicles and heavy-lift rocket development.

The academy said that the latest successful test marks a breakthrough in the production of China's hundred-tonne-class liquid oxygen-methane engines. It also highlighted the efficiency of the development process, noting that it was completed in just seven months.

In December 2024, the state-owned rocket engine developer tested its 90-tonne reusable liquid oxygen-kerosene engine for commercial spacecraft -- a milestone achievement since it began focusing on the commercial space sector in 2023.

The commercial space sector was listed in the country's 2024 government work report as a "new engine of economic growth."

The academy said that more efforts will be dedicated to developing heavier engines, specifically targeting reusable 200-tonne liquid oxygen-methane engines.