| TQ-12 | |
| Status: | Active |
| Type: | liquid |
| Mixture Ratio: | 2.92 |
| Nozzle Ratio: | 45 |
| Thrust(Vac): | 745kN for sea level nozzle 785kN for vacuum nozzle |
| Thrust(Sl): | 658kN |
| Chamber Pressure: | 10.1MPa |
| Specific Impulse Vacuum: | 337 s |
| Specific Impulse Sea Level: | 284.5 s |
| Dimensions: | 3.9 m |
| Diameter: | 1.5 m |
| Notes: | [1] [2] |
The TQ-12 (lit. Sky Lark 12) is a gas-generator cycle rocket engine burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen (methalox) developed by LandSpace.[3] TQ-12 is the first Chinese liquid rocket engine developed with private funding.[4] The engine has been designed to produce 670kN of thrust at sea level.[5]
The engine passed its first power pack test including the turbopump, valves, ignition components, and the gas generator at a LandSpace facility in Huzhou on March 25, 2019.[6] The engine's first full assembly was delivered in May 2019, and a hot fire test was successfully conducted the same month.[7] [8] The engine passed its first 200 seconds variable thrust test on October 26, 2019.[9] Series of 400s hot fire tests were conducted in January 2021 and the first-stage engine assembly for LandSpace's Zhuque-2 rocket was completed in February 2021. It consists of four TQ-12 engines providing a takeoff thrust of 268 tons.[10] 37 TQ-12 family engines have been built by LandSpace as of July 31, 2022, with a hot fire test duration of more than 20,000 seconds. A record-breaking 3357 seconds of hot firing time were accumulated by one engine after it was started 11 times.
In August 2022, LandSpace successfully tested the improved TQ-12A. Compared with the original TQ-12, the engine thrust is increased by 9%, the specific impulse is increased by 40 m/s, and the weight is reduced by 100kg.[11]
On December 14, 2022, Zhuque-2 completed its maiden flight. Four TQ-12 engines powered the first stage, which performed normally during the flight. However, the TQ-11 vernier engines used in the second stage failed, and the rocket was lost.[12]
In July 2023, the 2nd launch of Zhuque-2 was successful and the payload reached orbit.