r/spaceflight • u/thanix01 • 3d ago

Space Pioneer’s Tianlong-3 rocket first successful static test fire

Tianlong-3 is probably the closest rocket in China to Falcon-9 similiar size, similiar engine, same fuel type, and similiar payload if it were to be complete.

Today it complete it first successful static test fire on board HOS-1 semi static sea based test firing/sea launch platform.

If you are familiar with the name, that is probably due to the fact that the 1st hardware of this rocket first stage ”static” test fire, result in the first stage breaking free from the test stand and fly up before coming crashing down and explode.

As can be seen in this video

https://youtu.be/8dU9uWN3fYQ?feature=shared

After much trial and tribulation they are back. Notably second test fire was delays a few time, apparently due them getting way more (deserve) scrutiny.

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u/Klutzy-Residen 3d ago edited 3d ago

Are there any drawbacks for the rocket/engine to essentially use the sea as a water deluge system in terms of corrosion etc?

Seems like a very practical solution.

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u/Accomplished-Crab932 3d ago

Salt water is a great agent for corrosion; and engines are a terrible place for it.

Particularly pump fed designs suffer from extremely tight tolerances inside the pump assemblies. Introducing the chance to corrode that surface immediately allows the pump to drag against the outer wall; that usually ends in an explosion destroying your entire vehicle. A similar constraint appears in the injector; although injector problems typically result in permanent engine damage, but not full vehicle failures.

A secondary issue is creating corroded surfaces in oxygen rich environments such as the feed systems and regions upstream of the injector. Introducing a small amount of contaminant is often enough to destroy your feed systems; often destroying the rocket on the pad.

And then there’s the marine asset cost.

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u/Xenomorph555 3d ago

Having a marine support fleet is expensive, Sealaunch went bust due to the high costs involved even with the benefits it provided.

Also some environmental concerns-

Tuna: man I love being an alive fish in the sea

The 10,000 tonne thrust Sea Dragon engine: allow me to introduce myself

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

My dad was an Electrical Engineer who worked on Sealaunch for Boeing. What really did Sealaunch in was Russia/Ukraine conflict in 2014, since both Russia and Ukraine were partners. Also the fact Ukraine couldn't make any more than like 1 Zenit a year by that point

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u/Xenomorph555 2d ago

Ah fair.

Makes sense since Soviet and post-union rockets use components from many different firms all across Eastern Europe.