China 'Space Transportation' Startup: JinDou 400 Ramjet Engine Launch

China 'Space Transportation' Startup: JinDou 400 Ramjet Engine Launch

China startup Space Transportation's Jindou 400 in an upright position

China startup Space Transportation's JinDou 400 Ramjet Engine

China startup Space Transportation's "Yunxing" supersonic aircraft (illustration)

China startup Space Transportation's "Yunxing" supersonic aircraft (illustration)

China startup Space Transportation's "Yunxing" supersonic aircraft (illustration)

On December 17, 2024, Chinese commercial startup 'Space Transportation' successfully completed a scheduled test flight of its JinDou 400 ramjet engine (Jindouyun) for its Yunxing supersonic passenger aircraft. The engine achieved over 400 kilograms of thrust and reached Mach 4 speeds (5,000km/h)—four times the speed of sound—at altitudes exceeding 20 kilometers (exceeding 65,600 feet). 'Space Transportation' is building a supersonic passenger jet capable of Mach 4.1, over twice as fast as the British-French Concorde supersonic plane, according to the company. The Jindouyun, or JinDou400, engine was named after the “somersault cloud” used by the Monkey King in the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West.

The China 'Space Transportation' company aims to have a supersonic passenger aircraft ready for its first flight by 2027, with the first commercial high-speed point-to-point transport flight to take place by 2030.

Featuring detonation combustion technology and a modular design, the JinDou 400 engine is compact, functionally independent, and easy to maintain, offering commercial potential for high-speed flight in near-space environments. This test flight yielded in-flight performance data for the engine and included integrated assessments of critical technologies and systems, including the fuel supply, electrical, and control systems. The results fully validated the engine's stability and reliability, marking its transition from prototype to product. This milestone lays a solid foundation for the development of the "Yunxing" supersonic aircraft. 

Founded in 2018 by Yudong Wang, Space Transportation or Lingkong Tianxing Technology, focuses on reducing the costs of space exploration and on developing hypersonic aircraft. As testing continues, Space Transportation’s ambitious goal is to make commercial hypersonic travel a reality. It may soon introduce a new era in global transportation. 

Supersonic aircraft development has been delayed for decades due to challenges, such as noise, economic feasibility, and a lack of mature technology.

Learn more: 
https://www.spacetransportation.com.cn

Image Credit: Lingkong Tianxing Technology / 'Space Transportation'
Capture Date: Dec. 17, 2024

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