Private firm advances with new liquid-fuel rocket development
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 26, 2024

Orienspace, renowned for producing the world's mightiest solid-propellant carrier rocket, is now embarking on the development of a new liquid-fuel rocket, as revealed by the chief designer of the upcoming model.

The chief designer, Huang Shuai, outlined the details of the Gravity 2 model on Wednesday in Wuhan, Hubei province, stating that the new reusable rocket would come in two versions: a standard model and an enhanced model equipped with two side boosters.

The standard model will stand 70 meters tall, have a width of 4.2 meters, and feature a liftoff weight of 715 metric tons. It is designed for reusability, with the first core stage engineered to withstand at least 30 uses. The rocket will have a liftoff thrust of 990 tons, capable of transporting a minimum of 17.4 tons to low-Earth orbit or 11.9 tons to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers.

"If everything proceeds according to our plan, the rocket will be ready for its first flight about the end of 2025," said Huang.

The enhanced model will integrate the standard model with two solid-propellant side boosters, achieving a liftoff weight of 875 tons and a thrust of 1,290 tons. This variant will have the capacity to carry up to 29 tons to low-Earth orbit or 20 tons to a 500-km sun-synchronous orbit.

Both versions will utilize the Yuanli 85 engine, which is currently under development at Orienspace. Huang highlighted that the Gravity 2 project aims to cater to the growing demands of satellite companies for the deployment of medium to large-sized satellites and missions to higher altitudes.

Orienspace, headquartered in Beijing, has previously made headlines with the Gravity 1 model, the strongest solid-propellant carrier rocket built by a private Chinese firm. Its inaugural flight occurred in January off the coast of Haiyang, Shandong province, marking it as the first private rocket in China equipped with side boosters and possessing the largest fairing among the nation's private rockets. This launch also positioned Orienspace among the elite group of private Chinese firms with operational carrier rockets.

Related Links
Orienspace
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com