China has successfully test-driven an engine for its proposed new-generation carrier rocket, which will be used for future manned space and lunar exploration flights, space officials confirmed on Monday.

A spokesperson for the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp told Xinhua News Agency that the testing was a complete success.

All indices of the engine are in the normal range during the test-driving of a 120 ton liquid oxygen and kerosene-fired engine,experts with the Aerospace Propulsion Academy of the corporation said.

With a maximum propulsion of 120 tons, the engine will be three times as powerful as the country's existing Long March rocket carriers, experts said.

The experts, who declined to be named, said the new rocket carrier will be non-toxic and pollution-free, and will enable China to put heavier satellites and moon exploration devices into orbit.

The successful test-driving of the engine represents an important step in China's new-generation carrier rocket research and development program, said the spokesperson.

China's Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense announced earlier this year the central government will launch the new-generation carrier rocket development program.

Long Lehao, chief engineer of the country's powerful Long March carrier rocket C, said the new rocket development program is critical for China's future space programs, including a proposed manned mission to the Moon. China's existing launch vehicle is not powerful enough to send astronauts to the moon.

The engine research and development program, if launched as planned, will help China catch up with developed nations in the launch vehicle field and improve its competitive edge in the international commercial launch market, said Long, who is a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

He said Europe, Japan and the US are expected to provide a range of launch services soon with next generation launch vehicles that are pollution-free, user-friendly, powerful, highly-reliable and with a powerful launch capability.

China has announced a project to launch a satellite next year to orbit the moon for about a year for 3D images of the lunar surface.

The project, which has a budget of 1.4 billion yuan (US$170 million), is part of a program which aims to eventually place an unmanned vehicle on the moon by 2010.

China successfully put astronaut Yang Liwei in space in 2003, becoming the third country after Russia and the US capable of manned space flights independently.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2006)