Chinese launch startup Zenk Space has officially confirmed that its Zhihang-1 (ZH-1) rocket is ready for its maiden flight. The final stage of ground preparations was the successful hot static test of the first stage, conducted on February 11. Instead of the usual land-based test stand, engineers decided to test the rockets on the HOS-1 mobile sea platform in the waters off the coast of Shandong. The success of the tests not only confirmed the design’s resistance to aggressive environments, but also made the young startup well-known among China’s private space players, who are targeting the global space launch market.
If you look under the rocket fairing, the ZH-1 appears to be a classic, but extremely well-designed three-stage launch vehicle. At a height of 50 meters, the diameter of the rocket body is 3.35 meters. The rocket from Zenk Space is designed to deliver cargo weighing up to 4 tons to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. The rocket runs on a fuel mixture of kerosene and liquid oxygen. The first-stage power plant is of particular interest. It is based on four YF-102 engines operating on a gas generator cycle. Engines manufactured by the state-owned corporation CASC have become a new standard of sorts for Chinese rocket builders. In addition to Zenk Space, companies such as CAS Space and Space Pioneer are also betting on this engine, which only underscores the versatility of the main engine.
The most ambitious part of the project is the asset recovery scheme, reminiscent of the American SMART concept. Zenk Space decided not to waste fuel on landing the entire stage, but to focus on saving the engine compartment, which accounts for about 65% of the system’s cost. After completing their task, the engines are separated, enter the atmosphere under the protection of a heat shield, and descend by parachute. The final stage is a soft landing on special inflatable cushions, which allows the engines to be recovered from the ocean and integrated into new rockets after inspection.
Zenk Space’s strategic plans are not limited to the current model. Engineers are already working on a more powerful 62-meter-high ZH-2, which will be capable of launching 12 tons of payload into orbit and will have a fully recoverable first stage. The 81-meter giant ZH-3 looms as a prospect, but for now these plans seem too far-fetched.
