Tianbing Technology announced that the nine "Tianhuo Twelve" (TH-12) engines for the first stage of the Tianlong Three liquid launch vehicle have completed calibration hot testing and have been delivered for the maiden flight.
The delivery lays a solid foundation for the Tianlong Three's maiden launch in July and marks another significant milestone in the development of Tianbing Technology's large liquid rocket tailored for satellite internet services.
During the calibration test, the engines simulated the propellant inlet conditions of the maiden flight at nominal operating conditions and mixture ratios, with each test lasting approximately 50 seconds.
The engines started quickly, operated smoothly, and shut down normally during the test. The performance and mixture ratio adjustment accuracy were better than ±1.5%, and the calibration was successful on the first attempt. These results demonstrate the stability of the engines at nominal operating conditions, the consistent quality of the batch production, and the fulfillment of the quality and performance requirements for the Tianlong Three rocket flight.
Thor 12: China's First Commercial Liquid Rocket Engine
The successful hot-test completion of Thor 12 (TH-12), the first commercial large-scale liquid launch vehicle active propulsion system in China, marks a significant milestone for Tianbing Technology. It signals the official start of commercial production and delivery of their large-scale liquid rockets and engines, representing a major breakthrough in China's commercial space industry.
Tianlong 3 Rocket
According to available information, the Tianlong 3 rocket from Tianbing Technology features:
Innovative Technologies
The rocket employs over 50 advanced technologies, including:
These innovations significantly enhance the rocket's cost-effectiveness. Its first stage, in particular, features reusability and autonomous return capabilities.
Commercial Launch Capabilities
Following the successful launch of Tianlong 2, Tianbing Technology has developed Tianlong 3, the first large-scale commercial liquid rocket in China. Comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9, Tianlong 3 aims to achieve an annual launch capacity of over 30 by 2025, providing reliable launch services for satellite internet constellations.
