In 2025, China\u2019s commercial aerospace industry will usher in a historic leap. From the countdown to the first flight of a reusable rocket to the dense networking of satellite Internet constellations, behind every breakthrough is a key link – the test bench. <\/p>\n
Today we will take stock of: China\u2019s commercial aerospace test bed.<\/p>\n
01<\/p>\n
What is the use of a test bench?<\/p>\n
The test bench is a key facility specially used to test the performance of rocket engines and power systems, and is equivalent to the “physical examination center” of the spacecraft. It can simulate the operating status of the engine in the space environment, verify key indicators such as thrust, combustion stability, and durability through ignition tests, and collect data such as temperature, pressure, and vibration to provide accurate basis for engine optimization and improvement. The test bench is not only used to evaluate the performance of the engine itself, but also to test key components such as the fuel supply system, valve pipelines, and control devices to ensure the ability of the entire power system to work together in extreme environments. According to different structures, test benches are mainly divided into two types: inclined type and vertical type. The vertical test bench is used to simulate the upright state of a rocket during launch, and is suitable for hot testing of multiple engines or rocket stages. The inclined test bench installs the engine at an angle of 15-90 degrees, which is more suitable for testing engines that need to adjust the thrust direction. It can more realistically simulate the lateral load experienced during flight, thus improving the adaptability and reliability of the engine. (Picture: Jiuzhou Yunjian “Lingyun” engine swing test run Picture source: Beijing Yizhuang) <\/p>\n
02<\/p>\n
Commercial aerospace test bed<\/p>\n
1. 165 Tongchuan dual-station test bench Address: Tongchuan, Shaanxi Put into use: 2023 Propellant: liquid oxygen kerosene, liquid oxygen methane and other types of engines Thrust size: 700 tons This test bench is currently the largest thrust dual-station liquid rocket engine test bench in Asia. It has alternate testing and rapid turnover capabilities, and can meet the high-density test requirements of high-thrust engines. On May 30, 2023, the YF-102 engine specially developed for commercial aerospace by the Sixth Aerospace Academy completed its first test run at Station 2. Earlier on April 2 of the same year, the engine had successfully assisted the Tianlong 2 rocket to complete its first flight. It fills the gap in my country’s high-thrust liquid rocket engine testing facilities and further improves my country’s liquid rocket engine testing capability system. (Picture: 165 Institute of Tongchuan dual-station test bench Source: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation) 2. Kegong Rocket Yuan’an test bench Address: Yuan’an, Hubei Put into use: 2023 Propellant: Liquid oxygen methane Thrust size: 10-ton\/hundred-ton class The test bench includes 10-ton and 100-ton liquid engine test benches, which fully meets the overall rocket and engine test requirements. As of March 7, the “Mingfeng” No. 2 70-ton liquid oxygen methane engine independently developed by Kegong Rockets has completed multiple hot test runs in multiple working conditions such as starting, variable thrust, and rated, and the test run has reached the predetermined target. This laid a solid foundation for the development of the Kuaizhou series of reusable liquid oxygen methane launch vehicles. (Picture: 100-ton liquid engine test bed Source: Aerospace Science and Industry Rocket Technology Co., Ltd.) 3. Blue Arrow Aerospace Huzhou test bed Address: Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province Put into use: 2018 Propellant: Liquid oxygen methane Thrust size: 100-ton level Blue Arrow Aerospace built China’s first private high-thrust liquid oxygen methane engine hot test bed in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. Among them, key tests such as the ignition test, long-range test, and thrust vector control verification of the Tianque series engines are completed here. The completion of the Huzhou thermal test bed enables Blue Arrow Aerospace to have stronger independent research and development and testing capabilities in the field of liquid rocket engines. (Picture: TQ-15A first full system test Source: Innovation Huzhou) 4. Tianbing Technology Gongyi test bed Address: Gongyi, Henan Put into use: 2020 Propellant: Liquid oxygen kerosene Thrust size: 100-ton level Tianbing Technology has built four test beds of the Tianbing Tianxiao series with a thrust of more than 100 tons in Gongyi, and has undertaken all development and test projects of liquid rockets. On June 30, 2024, during the hot test of its Tianlong 3 first-stage nine-machine parallel power system, due to structural failure at the connection between the rocket body and the test bench, the first-stage rocket accidentally separated from the launch pad, resulting in mission failure. It fully explains the industry consensus that “getting on the test bench is getting on the launch pad”. (Picture: After the Tianlong-3 first-stage test rocket is put on the shelves. Source: Global Aerospace Events) 5. Jiuzhou Cloud Arrow Bengbu test bed Address: Bengbu, Anhui Put into use: 2020 Propellant: Liquid oxygen methane Thrust size: 10 tons\/hundred tons Jiuzhou Yunjian built a 100-ton double-station liquid oxygen methane thermal test bed and a rocket sub-stage power system test bed in Bengbu. Among them, the engine test bench has successfully completed multiple ignition tests of the “Longyun” and “Lingyun” series engines. On January 20, 2023, Jiuzhou Yunjian and Jianyuan Technology successfully completed the hot test run of the stainless steel tank and the 70-ton liquid oxygen methane engine power system, further verifying the reliability of the key technology. . (Picture: Jiuzhou Cloud Arrow Bengbu engine dedicated test site Source: Anhui Economic News) 6. Galaxy Power Chizhou test bench Address: Chizhou, Anhui Put into use: 2023 Propellant: Liquid oxygen kerosene Thrust size: 50 tons The test bench is the core test base of Galaxy Power’s “Sky” series of liquid oxygen kerosene engines, focusing on the development of the Pallas-1 medium-sized liquid rocket.On December 9, 2024, the test bed completed a series of cumulative reliability ground thermal tests, laying a technical foundation for the first flight of Pallas 1 in 2025. (Picture: Galaxy Power\u2019s Chizhou Niutoushan test bed Source: Galaxy Power) 7. China Aerospace Dezhou test bed Address: Dezhou, Shandong Put into use: 2023 Propellant: Liquid oxygen kerosene Thrust size: 30 tons This test bed is mainly used for the research and development verification of liquid rocket engines, including key links such as thrust testing and long-range testing. On August 30, 2023, the 30-ton liquid oxygen kerosene engine independently developed by China Aerospace Corporation successfully completed its test run, providing technical support for subsequent reusable rocket and space tourism projects. (Picture: The liquid engine test bed test was a complete success. Source: China Aerospace) 8. China Aerospace Conghua test bed Address: Conghua, Guangzhou Time of putting into use: Under construction Propellant: Liquid oxygen kerosene Thrust size: 200 tons\/400 tons The test bed focuses on supporting reusable rocket technology, verifying the engine’s repeated starting capability through multiple ignition tests, and providing technical support for reducing launch costs.Once completed, it will play a role in promoting the development of key recyclable technologies for the Lijian series of rockets. (Picture: Aerial view of power system test bench Source: China Aerospace) 9. Deep Blue Aerospace Tongchuan test bench Address: Tongchuan, Shaanxi Put into use: 2021 Propellant: Liquid oxygen kerosene Thrust size: 30 tons\/hundred tons Deep Blue Aerospace has established a leading domestic private launch vehicle power system test base in Tongchuan. Its main facilities include a 30-ton small test bed, a 100-ton vertical test bed and a rocket vertical recovery test site. Since then, the base has successfully completed the commissioning test of the Thunder series engines, and successfully carried out the Nebula-1 ten-meter and hundred-meter vertical take-off and landing flight tests, laying a solid foundation for the recovery and reuse technology of subsequent launch vehicles. (Picture: In 2022, the first round of ignition test of the 20-ton “Thunder-R1” reusable engine. Source: Deep Blue Aerospace) 10.Deep Blue Aerospace Jinan test bed Address: Jinan, Shandong Put into use: 2024 Propellant: liquid oxygen kerosene, liquid oxygen methane Thrust size: 20 tons\/130 tons\/600 tons Deep Blue Aerospace and Jigang Group have cooperated to build the Deep Blue Jigang Changqing test base, focusing on rocket engine and power system testing. Three major test beds have been built, namely the 101 rocket engine test bed with a testing capacity of 20 tons of thrust; the 103 rocket power system test bed with a design thrust of 600 tons; and the 102 dual-station rocket engine test bed with a testing capacity of 130 tons and is expected to be put into use in 2025. (Picture: Deep Blue Aerospace Engine Test Site Source: Jinan Iron and Steel Group) 11. Tianhui Aerospace Tongchuan test bench Address: Tongchuan, Shaanxi Put into use: 2023 Propellant: Liquid oxygen kerosene Thrust size: 100 tons Tianhui Aerospace has built two engine ignition test benches in Tongchuan. Relying on the independently developed Xiaolong 1, Honglong 1 and Qiaolong 1 engines, it has completed a series of verification tests. These key tests not only verified the reliability and performance of the engine, but also laid a solid foundation for the layout of Tianhui Aerospace\u2019s subsequent engine series and the development of the entire commercial launch vehicle. (Picture: On January 17, 2025, the “Qiaolong 1” 15-second rated operating condition complete machine test source: Deep Blue Aerospace) 12. Universal Aerospace Xintai test bed (under construction) Address: Xintai, Shandong Put into use: 2025 Propellant: Liquid oxygen kerosene Thrust size: 30 tons\/120 tons\/1000 tons Oneworld Aerospace has built China’s first “open” rocket power system test center in Fenghuang Mountain, Quangou Town, Xintai City. It is equipped with 120-ton thrust and 1,000-ton thrust dual-station test benches compatible with full rocket power systems and engines, and a 30-ton thrust high and low pressure composite test station. At present, it has reached strategic cooperation with more than a dozen industry leaders such as Tianbing Technology, Oriental Space, and Interstellar Glory, and has become an important test platform for rocket development and launch. It is expected to be put into use in 2025, with an annual test capacity of 50-100 times and 10 rocket sub-stages. (Picture: Oneworld Aerospace Taian test bed Source: Oneworld Aerospace) 13. Interstellar Glory Mianyang test bed Address: Mianyang, Sichuan Put into use: 2025 Propellant: liquid oxygen methane Thrust size: 200 tons It is expected that in March 2025, the test bed will have the test capability of 100-ton liquid rocket engines, fully support the development and verification of the Focus-2 liquid oxygen methane engine, and have an annual test capacity of more than 100 times, providing a key guarantee for the stability and performance improvement of the Hyperbola-3 launch vehicle. (Picture: Interstellar Glory test bed project site Picture source: Mianyang Industrial Park, Sichuan) <\/p>\n
03<\/p>\n
Why build your own test bench?<\/p>\n
Behind the dots of these test benches lies the survival rule of commercial aerospace: building a self-built test bench is not a multiple-choice question, but a must-answer question. <\/p>\n
(Picture: Longyun engine reliability test breaks through 10,000 seconds. Source: Jiuzhou Yunjian)<\/p>\n
First of all, self-built test benches can significantly shorten the research and development cycle. Take Blue Arrow Aerospace as an example. In the early days, it relied on the national team’s test bench. Due to scheduling conflicts, testing was delayed, which affected the development progress. Since the establishment of its own test bench in Huzhou in 2018, the development cycle of Tianque series engines has been greatly shortened, achieving efficient iteration of “rapid trial and error-immediate improvement”. Secondly, building a self-built test bed helps reduce costs. Enterprises can not only save long-distance transportation costs and high rental costs, but also reduce trial and error costs during the test process and improve test efficiency through customized design. Of course, for start-up companies, a “shared” test bed model like Oneworld is more attractive in the early stages and can reduce the pressure on initial investment. However, in the long run, if companies want to take the initiative and improve their competitiveness, building their own test benches is still an unavoidable development path.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In 2025, China\u2019s commercial aerospace industry will usher in a historic leap. From the countdown to the first flight of a reusable rocket to the dense networking of satellite Internet constellations, behind every breakthrough is a key link – the test bench. Today we will take stock of: China\u2019s commercial aerospace test bed. 01 What […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25275"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25275\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}