Starriver Power's Ursa Major 1 Rocket Set for Maiden Flight with Reusable Engine
Chinese private space company Starriver Power has completed the 163rd test of its "Cangqiong-50" reusable liquid rocket engine, powering its upcoming "Ursa Major 1" rocket. The company is preparing for the rocket's maiden flight and subsequent recovery tests.
Chinese private space company Starriver Power (星河动力航天) is preparing for the maiden flight of its "Ursa Major 1" (智神星一号) medium-to-large reusable liquid-propellant launch vehicle. The company announced that its "Cangqiong-50" (苍穹-50) reusable liquid oxygen/kerosene engine successfully completed its 163rd routine hot fire test on July 1st.
The test, conducted at the company's "Niutou Mountain" engine test center, brings the total cumulative test time for 57 "Cangqiong-50" engine units to 20,088 seconds. As of early July, over 40 engines of this model have been assembled and delivered.
The "Cangqiong-50" engine features a pinhole injector design and is capable of deep variable thrust, multiple restarts, and reuse, with a designed lifespan of no less than 25 missions. Key technological verifications include testing thrust adjustments from 32% to 105% with a control precision of 0.5%.
The "Ursa Major 1" rocket, powered by the "Cangqiong-50" as its primary propulsion system, is expected to fly soon. Following the initial flight, the company plans to progressively test recovery procedures to establish commercial reusable launch capabilities.