Tianlong-2 (launch vehicle)

2023

Tianlong-2 became the first coal-fueled rocket

On May 23, 2023, the Chinese Aerospace Scientific and Technical Corporation announced that a rocket Tianlong-2 a private company Space Pioneer had become the world's first carrier to run on coal-derived aviation kerosene.

The launch of the Tianlong-2 took place in April 2023. It is argued that breakthrough fuel is not inferior in its characteristics to petroleum-based aviation kerosene. Rocket engines require premium fuel, and traditional rocket kerosene can only be obtained from high-quality oil through a complex production process. In China, with its limited oil reserves and generally mediocre field quality, supplies of aviation kerosene are seriously hampered.

Tianlong-2 private company Space Pioneer became the world's first carrier to run on coal-derived aviation kerosene

Thus, as noted, the first launch of a rocket running on coal kerosene is a landmark achievement - both for the PRC and for the global aerospace industry. The new coal-based fuel was developed jointly by Chinese state-owned companies, which include Coal-to-Liquid Chemical Company and Ningxia Coal Industry Group, as well as the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

It is said that the production line for the production of aviation kerosene based on coal is capable of supplying approximately 5,000 tons of fuel per year: this is estimated to be enough to provide more than 30 rocket launches. By 2025, annual production will increase to about 30,000 tons. The technology developed and implemented is expected to provide an efficient and sustainable supply of fuel to the Chinese aerospace industry, given the rich coal resources of the PRC. Thanks to this, the country will be able to reduce dependence on imported energy resources and ensure its fuel security in the missile sector.^[1]

Launch of rocket on liquid fuel

On April 2, 2023, the first Chinese private aerospace company, Space Pioneer, successfully launched the Tianlong-2 (Sky Dragon-2) rocket, a liquid-fueled carrier.

The launch took place at 16:48 local time (11:48 Moscow time) from the Jiuquan cosmodrome in Gansu province in northwestern China. The payload was the small experimental Earth remote sensing satellite Ai Taikong Kexue, developed by Hunan Hangsheng Satellite Technology Co.

Rocket Tianlong-2

The three-stage Tianlong-2 carrier is capable of launching up to 2,000 kg of cargo into low Earth orbit or 1,500 kg into a 500 km high sun-synchronous orbit. The diameter of the rocket is 3.35 meters, the height is approximately 32.8 meters. As part of the launch, the carrier used kerosene obtained from coal instead of fuel produced from oil.

On February 15, 2023, Space Pioneer announced B + Pre-C funding rounds. Since its founding in 2018, the company has raised almost 3 billion yuan (about $440 million at the exchange rate as of April 4, 2023). Some investors have ties to the state. The funds, in particular, were allocated by China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a partially state investment company, CCB International, owned by China Construction Bank Corporation, and CITIC Construction, an engineering and construction unit of the Chinese state-owned CITIC Group.

The money received during two new rounds of funding will be used to develop a larger Tianlong-3 launch vehicle and power units for it, build the necessary launch complexes and attract specialists to implement promising aerospace projects. The company has set its sights on the first launch of the Tianlong-3 in early 2024.^[2]

It is noteworthy that the launch of the Tianlong-2 rocket was the first case of a successful test of rocket kerosene, which is based on oil. Aviation kerosene produced by liquefaction of coal has the same properties as traditional fuel. China uses this type of kerosene to reduce dependence on imported energy resources by using coal, which is available in sufficient quantities in the country. The successful launch suggests that coal rocket fuel will continue to be used for Chinese launch vehicles, including the main ones - Changzheng-5, Changzheng-6 and Changzheng-7. So far, they plan to produce 5,000 tons of coal fuel per year - this volume will provide more than 30 flights. By 2025, annual production will be increased to about 30,000 tons.^[3]

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