China completes second hot-fire test for new moon rocket, including engine restarts

HELSINKI — China conducted a rocket stage hot fire test Friday in the latest step in the country’s plans to land astronauts on the moon.

A shortened Long March 10 rocket first stage test article fixed with seven YF-100K variable thrust kerosene-liquid oxygen engines ignited at 3:00 a.m. Eastern (0700 UTC, 3:00 p.m. Beijing time) Sept. 12, initiating a 320-second test at a pad at Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, Hainan island.

The tethered hot fire test focused on evaluating the performance and capabilities of the seven clustered engines for the rocket’s first stage for low-thrust operating conditions and secondary restart capabilities, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) said in statements .

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