Ignition and Combustion Systems Worked as Planned

China revealed on 24 January that it conducted a flight test of what appears to be a new scramjet engine – assisted by a two-stage rocket booster – that local media say could potentially have applications for future hypersonic aircraft.

State-owned broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) released a computer-generated video of the test. The footage showed the first stage booster being jettisoned, followed by ignition of the second stage. After reaching a pre-determined altitude, the air-breathing scramjet was ignited and provided additional thrust to the vehicle while the second stage burn continued. The scramjet exhaust was expelled through four laterally-mounted vents angled rearwards.

CCTV reported that the ignition system and combustion chamber worked as planned, and that the engine was able to provide constant thrust after its activation, marking a successful test flight. After the scramjet and second stage burn was completed, the second stage deployed a parachute and the rocket and engine returned to Earth for recovery.

The engine was developed by the Spray Combustion and Propulsion Laboratory of the School of Aerospace Engineering at Tsinghua University.

Wang Ya’nan, Chief Editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the state-owned Global Times newspaper that, since the engine needed a two-stage rocket booster, it probably worked near space or in the upper edge of the atmosphere, where air is very thin. This would be consistent with the scramjet design, which typically relies on a secondary propulsion method such as a rocket booster to bring the engine up to supersonic speeds at its intended operating altitude. Wang noted that, when the technology matures, its potential applications could include hypersonic and near-space aircraft.

Gabriel Dominguez for MON