Welkin
Country of originChina
ManufacturerGalactic Energy
Application
StatusUnder development
Liquid-fuel engine
PropellantLOX / RP-1
Performance
Thrust, vacuum500 kilonewtons (110,000 lbf)
Thrust, sea-level400 kilonewtons (90,000 lbf)
Thrust-to-weight ratio>120
Chamber pressure8.0 MPa (1,160 psi)
Used in
Pallas-1
References
Notes[1]

Welkin (Chinese: 苍穹; pinyin: Cāngqióng) is a gas-generator cycle rocket engine burning RP-1 and liquid oxygen under development by Galactic Energy. The engine features a pintle type injector, a double suction coaxial split turbine pump, and a gas generator using vortex principle.[2] The engine was built with reusability in mind and can be deep throttled to 20% and re-used up to 50 times.[1][3]

Galactic Energy's Pallas-1 reusable launcher will be powered by Welkin engines. Seven Welkin engines producing 280 tonnes of thrust will be powering the first stage, while the second stage will be powered by a single vacuum-optimized engine.[4] The engine successfully completed its first full-power test in March 2022.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "WELKIN REUSABLE LOX / KEROSENE ENGINE". www.galactic-energy.cn. Galactic Energy. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Pallas-1". www.b14643.de.
  3. ^ "Will This Chinese Company be the next SpaceX?". West East Space. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  4. ^ Jones, Andrew (7 December 2021). "Chinese private firm Galactic Energy puts five satellites in orbit with second launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Private Chinese Aerospace Firm Galactic Energy Completes Rocket Engine Test". Pandaily. 1 March 2022.
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