Story perspectives

China’s Satellite Engine Runs 14 Hours, Beats Global Counterparts

7/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

China tested a satellite engine that placed the Communications Technology Experiment Satellite 26A into a 35,800 km orbit.
The Xian-built engine generated 750 N thrust and burned for 11,617 seconds across five maneuvers in its late-June maiden flight.
Designed for ten hours, it ran over 14 hours thanks to a novel heat- and oxidation-resistant coating.
Chinese media said performance was unchanged, whereas U.S. R-42DM and Europe’s Leros-1B engines usually operate about seven hours.

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Story summary

China tested a satellite engine that placed the Communications Technology Experiment Satellite 26A into a 35,800 km orbit.
The Xian-built engine generated 750 N thrust and burned for 11,617 seconds across five maneuvers in its late-June maiden flight.
Designed for ten hours, it ran over 14 hours thanks to a novel heat- and oxidation-resistant coating.
Chinese media said performance was unchanged, whereas U.S. R-42DM and Europe’s Leros-1B engines usually operate about seven hours.