Lingkong Tianxing Technology unveiled its self-developed reusable liquid rocket with an animated video simulation posted to its official website on Tuesday. The clip showcased advanced flight control technologies, including mid-air flips and in-flight reignition.
The clip shows the VTVL (vertical take-off and vertical landing) rocket igniting and ascending to an altitude of nearly 2km (1.2 miles), where control surfaces on both sides of the nose shift angles, transitioning the rocket from vertical ascent to an upwards-slanting trajectory in a ballet-like motion.
After around 30 seconds, the engine shuts down upon reaching peak altitude and the rocket executes its first flip.
The rocket then begins to descend nose-first, slowing down at a high “angle of attack” – a term referring to the angle between the rocket’s “longitudinal axis” or nose direction and its direction of motion through the air. A high angle helps to generate aerodynamic drag for slowing down.
About 10 seconds later, the engine reignites as the wings adjust their angles, enabling the rocket to perform a second flip and return to a nose-up position.
