China completes first test flight of reusable liquid rocket engine

A view of the reusable liquid rocket engine developed by China's Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute. /Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute

The first aircraft solely developed by China and powered by reusable liquid oxygen and kerosene engine recently completed its verification flight test, one of the country's aerospace technology institutes said on Tuesday.

Developed by Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute, a subsidiary of the 6th Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the reusable engine model represents a major breakthrough in China's engine reusability development.

The verification flight test entails the engine in the maiden flight, carrying out inspections and maintenance, then doing several repeated flight tests and checking the reuse of liquid rocket propulsion, the Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute said.

A view of the reusable liquid rocket engine developed by China's Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute. /Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute