Engine for Space Rocket

Prototypes of 75-ton liquid engine (left) and seven-ton liquid engine (right) to be subject to combustion tests next month
Prototypes of 75-ton liquid engine (left) and seven-ton liquid engine (right) to be subject to combustion tests next month

 

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute plans to complete the assembly of 75-ton liquid engines for the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II this week and move the engines to the Naro Space Center located in Goheung, South Jeolla Province before starting combustion tests next month.

Performance tests are scheduled to be repeated for a higher level of safety and reliability until the launch of a test projectile equipped with the engine in December next year. For about a month until the combustion test, the institute examines the components including the engine fuel, sensors and metering systems.

 During the combustion test, all the components of the engines such as the turbopumps, burners and gas generators are to be checked. In addition, the period of combustion is planned to be gradually lengthened from one second to 140 seconds to confirm a stable operation of the engines and block combustion instability in advance. If any problem occurred during the course, a new 75-ton engine model would be developed.

The testing of the seven-ton liquid engine that is mounted in the same launch vehicle, which started last year, continues this year. A 100-second combustion test for this engine succeeded in December last year and the period is to be lengthened up to 500 seconds after each disassembled component is examined this month.

“The entire hardware of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II is to be completed this year through the testing of the 75-ton and seven-ton engines and the assembly of the projectile systems,” the institute explained, adding, “This means that this year will be a critical juncture for the Korea Space Launch Vehicle Development Project.”

The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II is equipped with five 75-ton engines and one seven-ton engine. It is planned to be launched in 2019 and 2020. The test projectile that has one 75-ton and one seven-ton engines is scheduled to be launched in December next year. 

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