Beijing-based aerospace firm Space Transportation, or Lingkong Tianxing Technology, has revealed its supersonic passenger aircraft prototype, the Yunxing (Soaring Star), which aims to achieve speeds up to Mach 4—double the speed of Concorde. This advanced aircraft could cut intercontinental travel times dramatically, with routes like Beijing to New York potentially taking just two hours. The Yunxing is designed with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities and is expected to operate at altitudes over 20,000 metres (65,600 feet), taking advantage of thinner air to achieve higher speeds and greater fuel efficiency. Following a successful prototype test flight in October 2024, the firm plans further engine trials and targets a maiden flight of a full-scale supersonic passenger jet by 2027. This innovation places Space Transportation at the forefront of the push to reintroduce supersonic commercial travel, potentially revolutionising long-haul air travel and positioning China as a leader in cutting-edge aerospace development.
Space Pioneer is developing reusable spaceflight technology rather than the traditional expendable rocket technology. Both launch vehicles and liquid rocket engines are being designed for reuse.
Tianlong-1
Tianlong-1 is a kerosene-liquid oxygen (kerolox) fueled vehicle using the Tianhuo-3 engine, with a payload capacity to low Earth orbit exceeding 3 tonnes (6,600 lb)
Tianlong-2
Main article: Tianlong-2
Tianlong-2, another launch vehicle designed by the company, entered service in early 2023. It is 32.8m tall, and it can lift up to 2t to LEO and 1.5t to 500km SSO. The maiden flight of Tianlong-2 took place on 2 April 2023, successfully carrying the Jinta cubesat from Hunan Hangsheng Satellite Technology to a Sun-synchronous orbit. This mission represented the first successful launch of a Chinese privately funded, liquid-fueled, kerolox rocket with Space Pioneer becoming the first startup company to reach orbit on its maiden attempt.
Tianlong-3
Main article: Tianlong-3
Tianlong-3 is a two-stage kerolox launch vehicle with a reusable first stage that is currently under development. It is designed to lift about 17t to LEO and 14t to 500km SSO, comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle. As of November 2023, the first launch is scheduled for June 2024, with two more launches planned before the end of 2024.
On 30 June 2024, a Tianlong-3 first stage rocket detached from its stand during a static fire test due to a structural failure, resulting in an unintentional launch. The rocket landed and exploded in the mountains 1.5 kilometres (0.9 mi) southwest of the test site in Gongyi, China, and no casualties were reported.
Engines
Space Pioneer's engine series are designated as Tianhuo (Sky Fire). Early concepts include Tianhuo-1 (TH-1), the initial Space Pioneer rocket engine, with hot-fire ground testing completed before 2020.[2] Tianhuo-2 (TH-2) was developed subsequent to Tianhuo-1, with the first hot fire test of the engine in early 2020.[3][2] Tianhuo-3 (TH-3) is a kerolox liquid-bipropellant rocket engine with 30 tonnes-force (66,000 lbf) of thrust. It is intended to be the main engine for the Tianlong-1 launch vehicle.[3] The engine had its first hot-fire test in December 2020, with a 50-second duration ground test run.
Space Pioneer later re-designated TH-3 as TH-11, which successfully powered the second stage of the Tianlong-2 rocket. A larger, 100 tonnes-force (220,000 lbf) class TH-12 engine is in development for its upcoming Tianlong-3 launch vehicle.
Tianlong-1
Tianlong-1 is a kerosene-liquid oxygen (kerolox) fueled vehicle using the Tianhuo-3 engine, with a payload capacity to low Earth orbit exceeding 3 tonnes (6,600 lb)
Tianlong-2
Main article: Tianlong-2
Tianlong-2, another launch vehicle designed by the company, entered service in early 2023. It is 32.8m tall, and it can lift up to 2t to LEO and 1.5t to 500km SSO. The maiden flight of Tianlong-2 took place on 2 April 2023, successfully carrying the Jinta cubesat from Hunan Hangsheng Satellite Technology to a Sun-synchronous orbit. This mission represented the first successful launch of a Chinese privately funded, liquid-fueled, kerolox rocket with Space Pioneer becoming the first startup company to reach orbit on its maiden attempt.
Tianlong-3
Main article: Tianlong-3
Tianlong-3 is a two-stage kerolox launch vehicle with a reusable first stage that is currently under development. It is designed to lift about 17t to LEO and 14t to 500km SSO, comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle. As of November 2023, the first launch is scheduled for June 2024, with two more launches planned before the end of 2024.
On 30 June 2024, a Tianlong-3 first stage rocket detached from its stand during a static fire test due to a structural failure, resulting in an unintentional launch. The rocket landed and exploded in the mountains 1.5 kilometres (0.9 mi) southwest of the test site in Gongyi, China, and no casualties were reported.
Engines
Space Pioneer's engine series are designated as Tianhuo (Sky Fire). Early concepts include Tianhuo-1 (TH-1), the initial Space Pioneer rocket engine, with hot-fire ground testing completed before 2020.[2] Tianhuo-2 (TH-2) was developed subsequent to Tianhuo-1, with the first hot fire test of the engine in early 2020.[3][2] Tianhuo-3 (TH-3) is a kerolox liquid-bipropellant rocket engine with 30 tonnes-force (66,000 lbf) of thrust. It is intended to be the main engine for the Tianlong-1 launch vehicle.[3] The engine had its first hot-fire test in December 2020, with a 50-second duration ground test run.
Space Pioneer later re-designated TH-3 as TH-11, which successfully powered the second stage of the Tianlong-2 rocket. A larger, 100 tonnes-force (220,000 lbf) class TH-12 engine is in development for its upcoming Tianlong-3 launch vehicle.
