| Country of origin | China |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Galactic Energy |
| Application |
|
| Status | Under development |
| Liquid-fuel engine | |
| Propellant | LOX / RP-1 |
| Cycle | Gas-generator cycle |
| Performance | |
| Thrust, vacuum | 500 kilonewtons (110,000 lbf) |
| Thrust, sea-level | 400 kilonewtons (90,000 lbf) |
| Thrust-to-weight ratio | >120 |
| Chamber pressure | 8.0 MPa (1,160 psi) |
| Used in | |
| Pallas-1 | |
| References | |
| Notes | [1] |
Welkin (Chinese: 苍穹; pinyin: Cāngqióng) is a gas-generator cycle rocket engine burning RP-1 and liquid oxygen under development by Galactic Energy. The engine features a pintle type injector, a double suction coaxial split turbine pump, and a gas generator using vortex principle.[2] The engine was built with reusability in mind and can be deep throttled to 20% and re-used up to 50 times.[1][3]
Galactic Energy's Pallas-1 reusable launcher will be powered by Welkin engines. Seven Welkin engines producing 280 tonnes of thrust will be powering the first stage, while the second stage will be powered by a single vacuum-optimized engine.[4] The engine successfully completed its first full-power test in March 2022.[5]
- ^ a b "WELKIN REUSABLE LOX / KEROSENE ENGINE". www.galactic-energy.cn. Galactic Energy. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "Pallas-1". www.b14643.de.
- ^ "Will This Chinese Company be the next SpaceX?". West East Space. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ Jones, Andrew (7 December 2021). "Chinese private firm Galactic Energy puts five satellites in orbit with second launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "Private Chinese Aerospace Firm Galactic Energy Completes Rocket Engine Test". Pandaily. 1 March 2022.