China’s rocket engine technology drives development of hydrogen energy industry chain

China's rocket engine technology is driving the development of the entire hydrogen energy industry chain, expert said at the ongoing 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, a coastal city of south China's Guangdong Province.

The event, also known as Airshow China, kicked off on Tuesday and will last through Sunday.

In the aerospace technology application exhibition area, a large sand table simulates scenes such as hydrogen production, liquefaction, storage, transportation, refueling, and applications, all of which are derived from the technology of hydrogen-oxygen rocket engines. The exhibition attracted many visitors.

"During the 1970s and 1980s, we began utilizing hydrogen in rocket engines, facilitating the continuous iteration and improvement of carrier rockets. Throughout this process, we have accumulated a large number of technologies with independent intellectual property rights. We have transformed our achievements to the field of hydrogen energy, which has formed these technological iterations and equipment achievements in the key links of the entire industrial chain," said Wang Feng, staff member of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

As China's energy structure shifts towards cleaner and greener emissions, the demand for fossil fuels is decreasing accordingly, said Wang. The consumption of clean fuels, including hydrogen, is expected to continue rising, which makes the development of the entire hydrogen energy industry chain more important.

"Next, based on the continuous updating and iteration of engine technology research, we will promote transformation of technical achievements into civilian applications, to enhance our achievements in the civilian sector, advance technology to higher levels, strengthen capabilities, and reduce costs," said Wang.

According to Wang, China has the capacity to produce five tons of liquid hydrogen per day and is currently working on the development of a facility capable of producing 30 tons of liquefied hydrogen daily.

China’s rocket engine technology drives development of hydrogen energy industry chain

China closed 2025 with a record of 92 space launches and major breakthroughs were made in manned space launches, deep space exploration and commercial launches, according to the China National Space Administration.

"In 2025, we created a new launch record, sending more than 300 satellites into planned orbits. Both the number of launches and the number of payloads placed in orbit have achieved qualitative leapfrog development," said Zhu Haiyang, an engineer with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

In 2025, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest single mission duration in the history of China's manned space program. Following the Shenzhou-20, the Shenzhou-21 achieved the fastest rendezvous and docking in the history of the Shenzhou mission in just three hours and a half.

Facing an unexpected technical situation with the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, China immediately activated emergency plans. Within 16 days, a series of maneuvers were accomplished including the launch of the Shenzhou-22 backup vehicle, presenting a "textbook model" for the international space community in effectively responding to unexpected emergencies.

In deep space exploration, the Tianwen-2 probe embarked on its journey for China's first asteroid exploration and sample-return mission in 2025.

Last year also saw intensive launch activities from multiple commercial rocket types, injecting strong momentum into the country's commercial space development.

As China has kicked off the first year of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), a new blueprint for the country's space program is unfolding. Multiple tests are planned in preparation for future lunar exploration, as Chang'e-7 lunar probe is scheduled to be launched for the lunar south pole to search for evidence of water ice. The industry is also preparing for the maiden flights of several new rocket types, which will include the challenges to test rocket recovery and reusability technologies.

China closes 2025 with record 92 space launches