Chinese firm conducts 1,000-second hot fire test of its reusable engine to challenge SpaceX

A Chinese rocket startup, Mega Engine Technology, based in Xi’an, announced on May 25 that its Chi closed-cycle kerosene-liquid oxygen engine completed a 1,000-second hot fire test, bringing total accumulated test time to 2,000 seconds. The engine demonstrated rapid startup, stable combustion, and full hardware integrity post-test, with a sea-level thrust range of 35 to 75 tons and a vacuum thrust of 87 tons. Its design supports variable thrust, multiple restarts, and reuse, positioning it for medium and large rockets or smaller first-stage applications. Founded in 2024, Mega Engine achieved rapid progress, completing its first staged-combustion engine development and testing by April 2025. The team includes specialists with backgrounds in advanced propulsion, including co-founder Zhang Chenxing, who holds a PhD from MIT. The company’s oxygen-rich staged combustion technology suggests experience from China’s state-owned propulsion programs. The Chi engine’s closed-cycle design offers a specific impulse advantage over open-cycle alternatives like the YF-102, currently in commercial use. Mega Engine plans to unveil a larger 200-ton-class Yan engine later this year, aiming to create a reusable LOX/kerosene engine family for various vehicle sizes. Most private firms favor simpler methane or open-cycle systems, but Mega Engine targets high-performance propulsion for commercial launch providers, particularly for second and upper stages. China’s growing launch sector is expanding to compete with the U.S. and SpaceX, with plans for satellite megaconstellations like Guowang and Qianfan, as well as crewed moon missions by 2030. Mega Engine’s advancements align with these goals, offering reusable engines to support China’s ambitious space initiatives, including astronaut training aboard the Tiangong space station.