YF-23 (rocket engine)

This article is about the Chinese rocket engine. For the American fighter jet, see Northrop YF-23.

YF-23E

Country of origin	China
First flight	1974-11-05
Designer	Academy of Aerospace Liquid Propulsion Technology
Application	Vernier engine
Associated LV	Feng Bao 1, Long March 2, Long March 3 and Long March 4
Status	In Production
Liquid-fuel engine
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH
Mixture ratio	1.57
Configuration
Chamber	4
Performance
Thrust, vacuum	47.1 kN (10,600 lbf)
Specific impulse, vacuum	297 seconds (2.91 km/s)
Burn time	300s
Used in
Long March 2F, Long March 3A, Long March 3B, Long March 3C, Long March 4B and Long March 4C second stage.
References
References	[1] [2] [3] [4]

The YF-23 is a liquid rocket vernier engine, burning N₂O₄ and UDMH. ^[5] It is used in along the YF-22 to form the YF-24 and YF-25 propulsion modules. ^{[3] [6] [7] [8]}

Versions

The basic engine has been used since the Feng Bao 1 rocket and has been the vernier propulsion of the Long March 2, Long March 3 and Long March 4 families second stage. ^{[1] [9] [10]}

• YF-23: Original version.
• YF-23B (AKA DaFY21-1): Improved version. ^{[9] [11] [12]}
• YF-23F: Improved version. ^[9]

Modules

This engine is bundled into modules along the YF-22 upper stage engine. ^{[13] [14] [15] [16]}

The relevant modules for second stage application are:

• YF-24: A module comprising an YF-22 and a single YF-23 verniers.
• YF-24B: A module comprising an YF-22B and a single YF-23B verniers.
• YF-24E: A module comprising an YF-22E and a single YF-23F verniers. ^[17]

References

1. Norbert Bgügge. "Asian space-rocket liquid-propellant engines". B14643.DE. Archived from the original on 2015-07-17. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
2. "Long March". Rocket and Space Technology. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
3. "YF-23". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on June 27, 2002. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
4. Sutton, George Paul (November 2005). "Liquid Rocket Propellant Engines in the People's Republic of China". History of Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines. AIAA. p. 873. ISBN   978-1563476495 . Retrieved 2015-07-15.
5. Harvey, Brian (2004). "Launch Centers Rockets and Engines". China's Space Program — From Conception to Manned Spaceflight. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 232. ISBN   978-1852335663 . Retrieved 2015-07-15.
6. "YF-22/23". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on May 31, 2002. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
7. "YF-22A/23A". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on June 26, 2002. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
8. "YF-25". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on November 17, 2002. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
9. Norbert Bgügge. "YF rocket engine history". B14643.DE. Archived from the original on 2015-07-17. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
10. Norbert Bgügge. "Propulsion FB-1". B14643.DE. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
11. "Chapter 2 — General Description to LM-2E". LM-2E User's Manual. Issue 1999 (PDF). CASC. 1999. p. 2. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
12. "Chapter 2 — General Description to LM-3B". LM-3B User's Manual. Issue 1999 (PDF). CASC. 1999. p. 2. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
13. Norbert Bgügge. "Propulsion CZ-2, CZ-2C, CZ-2D". B14643.DE. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
14. Norbert Bgügge. "Propulsion CZ-3, CZ-3A CZ-3B, CZ-3C". B14643.DE. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
15. Norbert Bgügge. "Propulsion CZ-4A, CZ-4B, CZ-4C". B14643.DE. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
16. Harvey, Brian (2013). "Chapter 3 — The Program". China in Space — The Great Leap Forward. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 87. ISBN   978-1461450436 . Retrieved 2015-07-15.
17. "2.3 LM-3B and LM-3BE Launch Vehicles". LM-3A Series Launch Vehicle User's Manual. Issue 2011 (PDF). CASC. 2011. pp. 2–16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2015-07-08.