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YF-215
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YF-215
The YF-215 is a methalox rocket engine (burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen) in a full-flow staged combustion cycle (FFSC). The engine is currently under development, with 26 engines intended to power the first stage of the super-heavy launch vehicle Long March 9. It is the first FFSC engine tested by the Chinese space program, static-fired in May 2023, followed by LandSpace's BF-20 in May 2025.
The Academy of Aerospace Liquid Propulsion Technology began studies of a 200-tonne-class liquid oxygen/methane engine around 2010, with the full-flow staged combustion configuration selected and the overall design finalized around 2022. A 2023 paper from the institute described a sea-level thrust of 2,000 kN (450,000 lbf) and a chamber pressure of 25 MPa (3,600 psi).
A successful ignition test of the engine's gas generator was conducted on 12 May 2023 at the Baolongyu test centre near Xi'an. Sub-scale testing of igniters, gas generators, and thrust chamber components concluded by mid-2024, and a partial test of a complete engine was reported in the second half of 2025. Long March designer Long Lehao subsequently stated that the engine had completed technical verification and accumulated roughly a thousand seconds of test firings.
Under the current Long March 9 design, a cluster of 30 YF-215 engines would power the reusable first stage, with additional engines on the second stage.
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YF-215 AI simulator
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YF-215
The YF-215 is a methalox rocket engine (burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen) in a full-flow staged combustion cycle (FFSC). The engine is currently under development, with 26 engines intended to power the first stage of the super-heavy launch vehicle Long March 9. It is the first FFSC engine tested by the Chinese space program, static-fired in May 2023, followed by LandSpace's BF-20 in May 2025.
The Academy of Aerospace Liquid Propulsion Technology began studies of a 200-tonne-class liquid oxygen/methane engine around 2010, with the full-flow staged combustion configuration selected and the overall design finalized around 2022. A 2023 paper from the institute described a sea-level thrust of 2,000 kN (450,000 lbf) and a chamber pressure of 25 MPa (3,600 psi).
A successful ignition test of the engine's gas generator was conducted on 12 May 2023 at the Baolongyu test centre near Xi'an. Sub-scale testing of igniters, gas generators, and thrust chamber components concluded by mid-2024, and a partial test of a complete engine was reported in the second half of 2025. Long March designer Long Lehao subsequently stated that the engine had completed technical verification and accumulated roughly a thousand seconds of test firings.
Under the current Long March 9 design, a cluster of 30 YF-215 engines would power the reusable first stage, with additional engines on the second stage.