TQ-11

Summary

The TQ-11 (Chinese: 天鹊-11; pinyin: Tiānquè-11, lit. Sky Lark 11) is a gas-generator cycle rocket engine burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen developed by LandSpace. It is used as the second stage vernier engine for LandSpace's ZQ-2 rocket.[2][3][4] The engine produces 80 kilonewtons (18,000 lbf) of thrust in a vacuum.[1]

TQ-11
Country of originChina
ManufacturerLandSpace
StatusActive
Liquid-fuel engine
PropellantLOX / CH4
Mixture ratio2.92
CycleGas-generator cycle
Configuration
Nozzle ratio25.5
Performance
Thrust, vacuum80 kilonewtons (18,000 lbf)
Chamber pressure10.1 MPa (1,460 psi)
Specific impulse, vacuum337s
Dimensions
Measurement1.1m
Diameter0.28m
Used in
ZQ-2
References
Notes[1]

History

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LandSpace completed the first engine hot firing test for TQ-11 on November 3, 2019, and the engine passed a 1500 second test in 2020.[2][4] On December 14, 2022, Zhuque-2 completed its maiden flight. The TQ-11 engines used in the rocket's second stage failed, resulting in mission failure. LandSpace planned to upgrade the second stage with one TQ-15A engine, eliminating the need for a vernier engine. The failure of TQ-11 could force LandSpace to update the second stage quicker than anticipated.[5] In July 2023, LandSpace successfully launched its second ZQ-2 rocket, continuing to utilize TQ-11 engines for the second stage. Future flights are planned to employ the TQ-15A engines.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "TQ-11 Engine". LandSpace. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b "System-level Test Run for "TQ-11"LRE Successfully Conducted - Landspace". LandSpace. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Will LandSpace be China's SpaceX?". The Space Review. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b Jones, Andrew (14 April 2020). "Space Pioneer raises $14 million to develop green liquid rocket engines". SpaceNews.
  5. ^ Beil, Adrian (14 December 2022). "Chinese Zhuque-2 fails during first methalox orbital launch attempt". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  6. ^ Beil, Adrian (11 July 2023). "LandSpace claims win in the methane race to orbit via second ZhuQue-2 launch". NASASpaceFlight.com.