China completes test of liquid-propellant rocket engine

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- China has completed the first test of a liquid-propellant rocket engine which has the largest thrust in the country, its developer announced on Saturday.

Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the liquid oxygen-kerosene engine has a designed thrust of up to 500 tonnes, about four times that of the current engines of the same type at service.

The success of the test marks a major breakthrough in the development of the rocket engine of this type, the company said.